5

when I assure you, I preferred yours
& your mother's & that I know very
few for whose company I would
forego yours.- You & Mrs. Bomford
stand to me in the place of the
sisters from whom I am separated,
& in all places & at all times
are valued & welcome visitors-
and your mother, seems as if she
were my mother too- No other
persons in the city excite so warm
& lively an interest- I feel as if
you were relations as well as
friends - you do not come to see
us, half as often as we wish &
you cannot come oftener than
you will be welcome.

The change in the weather has
made us all feel better & I hope
will have the same effect on you.
It will at least add to your comfort
by laying the dust.- All we wanted
these rainy days, was a new novel &
as this was unattainable I set about
writing one- [a?] story at least & this
so completely [ ? ] the lapse of
time yesterday, that when the carriage
drove to the door at 4 o clock, I
thought it was not more than
12- Today I have been [reading?] my
old [books ? ]. adieu, accept
the kindest wishes of your sincere friend
MHS