In the second letter of the same day there is a terrible economising about franks and postages—evidently concerns of no small weight—but in the midst of it showing what I have mentioned, that thoughtfulness and remembrance about others in the most trivial things.
"Dear Sir,
"I wish I could find any channel of writing by the ambassador's bag, for the postage which I have to pay is two francs, and, what is much worse, the post-office is at the other end of the town, and even when I have a messenger, whom I must pay, the chances are that he will not pay it. Will you tell Nanon*[1] that if she sends my letter to Gordon she must tell him that Mr. Douglas is not in Paris. I enclose a note I wrote yesterday. I am much better this evening, and have been for a short walk in the gardens of the Tuileries. How much I like the avenues. They were so crowded, the people looking so gay; but Paris is very empty—and it is unfortunate that Mrs. Fagan is just on the point of being confined, as they would have been such pleasant escorts. It is dreadfully hot. I long to see the 'Gazette;' and now must end abruptly or lose my opportunity. Pray write to me. I wish I were at home without the journey. I shall write the moment I have anything to tell, and must watch my means of going to the post-office. I fear that you will scarce be able to read this hasty scrawl.
"Yours truly,
"L. E. L."
- ↑ * Nanon Williams, who, with her sister Ellen and their mamma, lodged and boarded with the Misses Lance in Hans Place. They were two very pretty girls, of quite different styles of beauty—allied to L' Allegro and Il Penseroso. L. E. L. was very fond of them, and they of her. They were generally made her companions in pleasures and amusements.
