LETTER V.

Sunday Night.

I have just received your letter, and feel as if I could not go to bed

tranquilly without saying a few words in reply—merely to tell you, that

my mind is serene, and my heart affectionate.

Ever since you last saw me inclined to faint, I have felt some gentle

twitches, which make me begin to think, that I am nourishing a creature

who will soon be sensible of my care.—This thought has not only produced

an overflowing of tenderness to you, but made me very attentive to calm

my mind and take exercise, lest I should destroy an object, in whom we

are to have a mutual interest, you know. Yesterday—do not smile!—finding

that I had hurt myself by lifting precipitately a large log of wood, I

sat down in an agony, till I felt those said twitches again.

Are you very busy?

— — — — —

— — — — —

— — — — —

So you may reckon on its being finished soon, though not before you come

home, unless you are detained longer than I now allow myself to believe

you will.—

Be that as it may, write to me, my best love, and bid me be

patient—kindly—and the expressions of kindness will again beguile the

time, as sweetly as they have done to-night.—Tell me also over and over

again, that your happiness (and you deserve to be happy!) is closely

connected with mine, and I will try to dissipate, as they rise, the

fumes of former discontent, that have too often clouded the sunshine,

which you have endeavoured to diffuse through my mind. God bless you!

Take care of yourself, and remember with tenderness your affectionate

* * * *

I am going to rest very happy, and you have made me so.—This is the

kindest good night I can utter.

Memoirs and Posthumous Works of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, Vol. 1 · 第 15 / 143 题