CCVI. TO GUSTAVE FLAUBERT
Nohant, 4 January, 1872
I want to embrace you at the first of the year and tell you that I
love my old troubadour now and always, but I don't want you to
answer me, you are in the thick of theatrical things, and you have
not the time and the calmness to write. Here we called you at the
stroke of midnight on Christmas, we called your name three times,
did you hear it at all?
We are all getting on well, our little girls are growing, we speak
of you often; my children embrace you also. May our affection bring
you good luck!