irst
perhaps; but he will soon get accustomed to it, "How do you do?" in the
morning, and "Good night," at night. Then gradually get into the way of
saying "Mr. C." when talking of, or speaking to him. You may be told it
is not the custom. Answer you don't care, it is not the custom to be
such an idiot as he is. Ah, you are too sad, poor child, all that is
charming, and all our superstitions. Moreover, one must think of what
has been, not of what will be, and compare it with what is. The
progress is very delightful and consoling.

Do not be unhappy about my horse, he did not go very well, and then I
do not care about driving in a carriage when you are on foot.

I have made two drawings, one prettier than the other, and I have had a
copious emission.

Mrs. S. has made no tentative overtures towards me. She is often that
way inclined, and with everybody. Be calm then; but, after all, you are
perfectly so, only you pretend to be otherwise. God bless you for
speaking so often of your pretty rose-coloured silk stockings. I like
them so much, and adore you for wearing _them_, although it is not the
custom, above all in the day time. Doubtless it is very coquettish,
pretty, and wondrously exciting. Even only to think of them gives me an
erection. And that rice powder! how divine you must look. It is to be
hoped that the powder in your hair will not give ideas to II and
embolden him--take care. Thanks for thinking so often of me, my
idolized angel. Adieu, my good, my best treasure, I love and embrace
you tenderly. I will have my revenge, for I, too, had prepared a half
sheet, but will not send it till to-morrow.

Rome, _Saturday, for Sunday's Post_

_August 6th, 1859, 2 o'clock_.

I wish to give you a little surprise, my own dear little darling, in
sending you this letter, which you will receive with a half sheet upon
which you had not reckoned on Tuesday morning, so as to supply the
place of Sunday's post. It was to give you this little surprise, and in
no way of retaliation, that I did not send a half sheet in my letter of
this morning. It was very unkind of you not to send yours upon the
pretext that I was at Albano, but you will have been ashamed of it
since. Besides, even supposing that I had been there, I should not have
committed any indiscretion with your envelopes, which are so excellent,
and, if one had felt inclined to do so, your letter was sufficient to
make me indifferent to it. I suspect you of not hav