must be decided one way or the other. before .. he can be here. I am sure the sooner George is on the sea the better, for he has had too much on his mind lately for any health to stand long in a country like this. I write you none but low letters now, because we have stayed in this far-off country a year longer than we meant—a year too long, in fact.
I must send this to-day, though there is no direct communication from Cabul; there are more cheering reports, and I begin to hope they may hold out till the winter is over, when reinforcements can he sent them. If you could see my passage; thirteen large packing-cases, each large enough to hold our house at Knightsbridge, and London written on them. Ariffe is writing a Persian list of the contents, which, will be conveniently useful to Mary, the old housemaid. I should like to see her face when she sees the things, which it has been the sole employment of four men to take charge of; and if the handle of a China cup is broken, they come in procession to show it.
The only things about which I am baffled
