188 Boulevard Haussmann
Paris
8th July 1877
My dearest Julius,
I have just finished a long letter to May, & will begin one to you, ready for post time tomorrow, as I always have plenty to do on Monday. I felt pride at you having got a prize at Burford; you must not think you weary me with your talk about flowers though I know very little about them, I am as fond of them as you are, & shall be pleased to learn more, & anyway, my darling, what interests you must interest me. Those tiresome people have not yet sent the photographs, I shall go down tomorrow, but don’t at all expect to find the large ones done, as the little ones have not yet arrived. French people can rarely keep a promise.
You are right in thinking I like to have your letters on Sunday morning, they always seem an extra treat then. We had a nice sermon from Mr Mansell this morning, not elegant, but good. This afternoon Papa & I had a long walk, right down to the Cascade & back, I thought of our drive there, & yesterday evening I thought even more of it for, a friend of Joe’s, a Monsieur de l’Heroilliens[?} dined with us, & in the evening we drove to the lake & had a row on it; it was a lovely evening & I enjoyed it, but oh! how I wished that I could exchange my companions for the one I had a fortnight back. Not very grateful to Joe & his friend but I couldn’t help thinking so. Papa has had a talk with Ned about his future plans, & I think it will be managed for him to settle in England.
The Whitings were very near having a dreadful accident in crossing, their steamer was run into by another vessel in a dense fog; fortunately there was not much damage done, but it might have been serious. I am glad to know they are safe the other side now. I rather hope Fanny and Charlie will pass through Paris on their way to Switzerland, I am looking forward to seeing them. I am rather tired after my walk & my letter to May has exhausted my small stock of ideas, so I will finish this tomorrow, my darling.
9th July. I must just add a few lines to my letter before closing it. We have seen nothing of Mr & Mrs Tom Coleman, are they still abroad? I should think if they had been in Paris they would have called either here or at the office. Is your friend Mr Bliss home yet? Has anyone teased you about wearing a lady’s ring? I like to think of it being on your finger at least if you have not already discarded it!
Now my dearest, I must say goodbye for the present.
Accept the best love of your own affectionate
Eugénie Narcisse Mourilyan
