188 Boulevard Haussmann
Paris
16th April 1877
My dear Julius,
I received your nice spooney letter yesterday evening as I was starting for church, I believe it arrived by the morning mail but was not brought upstairs, but had you posted it before noon I should have received it on Saturday morning. As it was, I am afraid it rather disturbed my thoughts during service, I found the sermon very difficult to listen from that or other causes. We had a very fine day for our move, indeed we have had a week of lovely weather. Paris is looking its best the trees all coming into leaf so fresh & green. We are just beginning to be able to find things a little though there is much to be doing before we get to rights, I should not like to spend another week like the last, at any rate for some time to come, it is so tiring & uncomfortable. I am feeling the effects of it today & scarcely feel up to writing a little card to you, dear. I think we shall be very comfortable here, the apartment is very cheerful, having a charming view from the drawing-room window, & my room looks on to the garden of the hospital & on the Russian church.
I heard again from Charlotte a few days ago & must write again soon, indeed I shall have a number of letters to answer as I have heard from many of my friends. Fanny sent me a photograph of herself in the dress of Marguerite which she wore at Mrs Butler’s fancy dress ball, it is a charming portrait I think the nicest she has had taken since her marriage. I have not yet ordered my photos, but hope to do so this afternoon if I am able to go out. I took up Longfellow the other day, & read the two pieces that you read aloud to me. I seemed to hear your voice & to have you again by my side. I shall like you to read poetry to me, as you perhaps succeed in making me less prosaic. At any rate, I should always like my tastes to agree, as far as possible, with those of very dearest Julius. I don’t know why, but for the last few days I have felt as if our engagement were not reality, as if I had dreamt of your visit in Paris & all that happened in those few days, certainly with the exception of your letter I have little to make it seem true, as it is rarely referred to at home. Papa seems to shun the subject & seeing this I scarcely like to talk about you. May I have only seen once in the last week, having been too busy to make many calls, I hope to spend the evening with her tomorrow, & then I may have a quiet talk with her. Thanks for the violets, anything to remind me of you is welcome, not that I need much reminding, for I think of you almost constantly my darling.
I must not write more now, I have some shopping to do, & must go & dress. You are a dear good fellow to have written so often, your letters make me very happy. Accept the best love of your own affectionate
Eugéne N. Mourilyan
