(unless your hand be like his!) and then
you will tell me how you are, and how your Party whom you were expecting
at Leamington when last you wrote. I take for granted they arrived safe,
in spite of the Wind that a little alarmed you at the time of your
writing. And now, in another month, you will be starting to meet your
American Family in Switzerland, if the Scheme you told me of still
hold--with them, I mean. So, by the Moon's law, I shall write to you
once again before you leave, and you--will once more answer!

I shall say thus much of myself, that I do not shake off the Cold and
Cough that I have had, off and on, these four months: I certainly feel as
if some of the internal timbers were shaken; which is not to be wondered
at, nor complained of. {241a} Tell me how you fare; and believe me

Your sincere as ancient

LITTLEGRANGE.

I now fancy that it must be Bentley who delays your Book, till Ballantine
& Co. have blown over. {241b}

CIV.

_Whitmonday_, [_May_ 29_th_, 1882.]

MY DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

Not full moon yet, but Whitsun the 29th of May, {241c} and you told me of
your expecting to be in Switzerland. And when once you get there, it is
all over with full moons as far as my correspondence with you is
concerned.

I heard from Mowbray that his Father had been all but lost to him: but
had partially recovered. Not for long, I suppose: nor need I hope: and
this is all I will say to you on this subject.

I have now Charles Keene staying Whitsuntide with me, and was to have had
Archdeacon Groome to meet him; but he is worn out with Archidiaconal
Charges, and so cannot come. But C. K. and I have been out in Carriage
to the Sea, and no visitor, nor host, could wish for finer weather.

But this of our dear Donne over-clouds me a little, as I doubt not it
does you. Mowbray was to have come down for three days just now to a
Friend five miles off: but of course--you know.

Somehow I am at a loss to write to you on such airy topics as usual.
Therefore, I shall simply ask you to let me know, in as few lines as you
care to write, when you leave England: and to believe me, wherever you
go,

Your sincere Ancient
E. F.G.

CV.

WOODBRIDGE, _June_ 24, [1882.]

MY DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

You wrote me that you had bidden Blanche to let you know about her
Father: and this I conclude that she, or some of her family have done.
Nevertheless, I will make assurance doubly sure by enclosing you the