t longing, at some baked apples, stale buns, etc. I stopped
and asked him if he wished very much for some of those things. He said
yes, he wished very much for some baked apples for his _poor little
brother who was sick_. I wish you could have seen the little creature's
face when I gave him money to buy what he wanted, and he carried off his
baked apples in his arms; that look of profound desire for the sake of
his brother, on the poor little childish face has haunted me. I went to
see his people, and found them poor and ill, in much distress; and the
mother, looking at her youngest child, a sickly, wasted, miserable
little object, lamented bitterly that she did not belong to such and
such associations, for then, "if it should please God to take the child,
she should have five pounds to bury it" (I wonder if these wretches are
never killed for the sake of their burial money?); "but now she hadn't
so much as would buy a decent rag of mourning"--a useless solicitude, it
seemed to me, who think mourning attire a superfluity in all classes.

I have had a letter from the Leamington manager, desiring me to act
there, which I will do, some time or other.

I have a riding-habit of my own, and need not hire one at Hastings; but
I shall be glad to hire a horse while I am with you, as, you know, I do
not mind riding alone.... I feel intensely stupid, which makes me think
I must be ill (admire, I beg, the conceit of that inference), as I have
no other symptoms of indisposition. Farewell. Give my love to Dorothy.

Ever yours,
FANNY.

BANNISTERS, SOUTHAMPTON, Friday, December 17th.

I have spoken with even more than my usual carelessness and inaccuracy
upon the subject of my readiness to comply with other people's wishes,
but I seriously think one ought to comply with a request of _anybody's_
that was not an impertinent or improper one. I suppose everybody is
inclined to fulfil the wishes of persons they love.... But I am not
given to the "small attentions," _les petits soins_ of affection, and
therefore am always particularly glad to know of any special desire of a
friend's that I can comply with; a special wish, too, is a saving of
trouble, like the questions in your letters which are equivalent to
wishes in another way, and indicate the particular thing you want to
know....

I have been out of spirits and m