188 Boulevard Haussmann
Paris
20th April 1877
My own dear Julius,
Your dear letter this evening made me so happy, that I must answer it at once, and not let you be disappointed again, though your disappointment was not my fault as you ought to have received my letter on Tuesday last. Don’t talk of your letter being dull, my darling, reading them is my greatest pleasure, and how can I think them dull, when they are full of your love for me. Mine may sometimes appear cold but if so they do not express my thoughts for indeed, dear Julius, you have my entire love and confidence. Sometimes ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ & I think it has been so with me. I feel that my sky would indeed be cloudless at present were it not for the thoughts of what Papa will do when I leave him. This worries me all the more that he does not say a word as to his future plans, & I have not yet dared to speak of it to him.
I have ordered the photograph & hope to send it to you in the very next letter. Have you one like the one that Charlotte has of you, if so I wish you would send it to me, as I should like to have it.
We are beginning to get tolerably settled in our new house, though we are not quite to rights yet, however I have a little more time to spare, & am beginning to answer some of the very numerous letters. I must also make a round of calls, as I am behindhand with them. Neither the writing nor the calls are much to my taste, still there is great satisfaction in feeling they are done. We are having a good many rehearsals of our operetta just now, it is to take place on the 5th May, so we are working hard to get it ready. I rather enjoy being orchestra.
Last evening, I went to the theatre with May & Mr Whitney, & had a very pleasant evening; they are such a dear little couple, so happy & fond of each other; I teased them a little bit of course, but got it back in kind, as they said I should soon be in the same case as themselves. We heard some very good singing & the music of Paul & Verginie is very pretty. One song especially sung by a woman with a splendid deep contralto voice, pleased me very much. But I must not bother you with my raptures on the score of music. I am very much afraid the Whitneys will leave Paris the first or second week in May, as Mr Whitney says unless he hears from his father he must get back to his business. I quite dread May’s leaving as it will seem a complete break to our friendship, we never can have the same opportunities of being together, as we have enjoyed till now. I should feel as sad as I did when she married, were it not that now I have a great happiness of my very own, which makes me almost forget all other things.
I am glad you had a nice letter from Richmond, so you thanked Polly for her good services did you? You certainly would not have seen me in London that day had it not been for her. I hope Ramsgate will set up poor little Anna, I am afraid that they will have great difficulty in rearing her. I must try to write to Polly in a day or two. We had good news of Walter yesterday, they are all well & talk of coming home next year. I am afraid this war will be rather a serious affair for Fred.
Goodbye, my own darling, believe me ever your loving
Eugénie Narcisse Mourilyan
