Wednesday, 16th.
I must put this up to-day, as the ‘Bengal’ and ‘Adelaide’ both sail to-morrow, and then there will be a cessation of opportunity for a little while. This is a bad time of year for us; the ships from England make such long passages, and there are, moreover, not many due. In about a month we shall be beginning to fidget for the arrival of our Simlah boxes, for we shall not pick up any clothes here. It was announced yesterday by the milliner that there was not another yard of satin of any colour whatever in Calcutta, except a small remnant, possessed by a mad German, of white satin for shoes. Miss is to marry without a trousseau, which is to be made when the French ships arrive. I always like these little colonial distresses.
God bless you, my dearest ! This leaves us all quite well and our influenza done in answer to yours. This has been an idle month in the writing line; so, if you hear anybody complain, you must say touchingly, ‘Ah, poor thing! she has not been well.’
Yours most affectionately,
E. E.
