LETTER EIGHT.
London,
February 10th, 1839.
My Dear Sister,
We received your letter dated January 27 on February 1st. We were glad to hear from you—it seemed so long since your last. Were extremely sorry, but not surprised, to hear of dear mother being so ill. I hope she is now restored to her usual health. We were much hurt by your account of the unfavourable circumstances attendant on Maria's journey, and sincerely hope she is perfectly recovered from her distressing illness. We hope, too, that by this time your own severe cold ' has had its day and been forgotten.' We ourselves are both rather poorly.
I have not been able to see Bell's Life, but tell my father that my high hopes are undimini-
