University of Virginia Library

---

I received your letter yesterday evening after anxiously
waiting it all day. This morning whether from sleepiness or innocence
I scarcely know, I feel no disposition to enter into a defence
of myself against the charges of inconsistency etc. brought against
me, but if you will pardon me prefer to leave all that until we meet.
If the weather is good you may expect me about the middle of the day
Saturday. Aunt Maria intends to come back home the same day, and I
hope I need not say that I shall be delighted to be with you again,
although you seem to think I have all of a sudden grown cold & indifferent.
I am sorry to learn that you are not yet perfectly recovered.
I hope you will be very careful not to expose yourself in any
way, for if there is anything I dread it is your being sick, especially
when disease is so prevalent as at present.

Have you heard anything of Miss Jane Randolph lately? I was
concerned to hear from Redlands Sunday that she was very sick indeed,
in Baltimore, if it is so her recovery must be very doubtful. I feel
a great deal for Mr. Kean, it must make him very unhappy. Miss Ellen
Randolph was at Redlands, but they would not let her know how her
sister was, for fear of distressing her while on a visit. I am also
sorry to hear that Mrs. Courtenay is so dangerously sick. Mrs. Cristopher
Gilmer spent the day here yesterday so you see we have visitors.
although in the country, and either to-day or to-morrow we will go
out ourselves.

Sunday we went to Temple Hill and heard a sermon from Mr.
Doll. It was communion day, but I felt so sick and badly that we
came away as soon as the congregation was dismissed. You must not
think I am voluntarily injuring my eyes& My health in any way. I am
only anxious to do as much work here as possible because I know how
little can be done at home, and I do not think it is because my
heart is so set upon the clothes. I know that certain things must be
done, and I only wish to do my portion of the labour, not surely
because I enjoy such constant employment, but look forward I assure
you with great joy to the time when it will be terminated. Please
excuse my miserable writing. I am ashamed to send you such letters
as I do. I do not think I will be able to write again before I go
home, but I hope I shall hear from you. You have been very kind to
write to me so regularly.