188 Boulevard Haussmann,
Paris
19th July 1877
My dearest Julius,
I was very glad to get your letter this morning, it was a post later than usual, & I was beginning to call you names for not having written, as I thought. Not that my last letter was worthy of a reply, it was a most shabby epistle, but you can understand how difficult it is to write with people talking around you & to you. I expect Fanny will be back tomorrow fortnight, & then she will stay with me a week or ten days.
Polly has another daughter born on Sunday last, Fred wrote me word, & said both she & the baby were doing well; the latter is a very large child. Fred talks of coming to Paris for a week in August, I hope he will do so.
I had the treat of a nice long letter from May yesterday, it came just in time to satisfy a craving to see which was growing on me for some days. She writes so kindly, especially about our engagement, & wants to hear all news.
So you have won another prize. I suppose it is rather naughty of me, but I am rather sorry the cup was not won by someone else, we must win it next year if possible. Joe wants to know if you will take him in for a day or two, if he gets over to England for next month, he says he should like to go down to see you. Gus has not yet had any decided news about the appointment in Italy. I should be very glad if he got it. My own lot looks so bright now, my darling, that I could wish all those around me to be equally happy. Braun[?] is a tiresome man not to have sent the photographs yet. Mrs Parmely called & said she would call & take me for a drive tomorrow, so I shall ask her to drive me down there, & see how they are getting on.
We are having rather disagreeable weather just now, rainy & very close, it has the effect of making me feel fearfully sleepy. I can scarce take up a book for a quarter of an hour without feeling my eyes gradually closing, it is very stupid.
I had several calls this afternoon, they disturbed me as as I was diligently practising a most difficult piece which I tell M.elle I shall take at least five or six months to learn. The Irvines have left for Tipa [?] & little Annie with them. I took the latter out for a walk last Monday, she was so good & amusing. I expect it will be September before Papa & I get to England, as neither Polly & Fanny can conveniently take us in before & though I have heaps of other invitations I had rather go to them if possible, as it would be convenient for you to come & see me, & our meeting is what I look forward to, during my visit, your Eugénie can only be perfectly happy when she has her Julius by her side. God bless you, my darling, believe me ever
Your own loving
Eugénie Narcisse Mourilyan
