n8 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, ix 



a visit to Madame Recamier on Sunday and to return by 

 Sceaux. Mrs Collos we see pretty often, though I am 

 afraid not quite so often as she wishes. It is natural for 

 her to wish it, but the consciousness of that sometimes 

 makes me feel uneasy in not doing more, but I cannot find 

 time or inclination. She is very affectionate and full of 

 zeal in our service, but I think you had better give her no 

 commissions before you come here of any sort. . . . 



William Clifford to Fanny Allen. 



MY DEAR, 



It is all the fault of that irreproachable Mrs Wedg- 

 wood that I did not write to you long ago, for I have been 

 bursting with affection ever since I received your kind 

 letter and not known what to do with it. I began a letter 

 yesterday, but I got bothered with Mrs Collos 's English 

 (as she is pleased to think it), and now here is the same 

 hashed up again. I go on liking the house of Wedgwood 

 vastly, but it is now nearly over, for I am leaving Paris 

 next week and I am not so extravagant as to keep up an 

 establishment of useless friends out of reach. Your Mr 

 Sismondi is in high bloom, and very constant to you, not- 

 withstanding a great deal else to do or to enjoy. I new 

 and then try to tease him into some sort of a kindness 

 towards me but he seems to have made up his mind on that 

 point. . . . 



Your sentence on me that I am never to be in love is 

 rather disheartening, and I got another letter at the same 

 time to the same effect; and it will perhaps set me about 

 trying one of these days, but I suspect with you that it is 

 not my vocation. I have nothing more to say without 

 looking for it, which would be as bad for you as me. Re- 

 member me most kindly to Mrs Drewe, Misses Marianne 

 and Gteorgina, and let all my old friends believe me 



ever very sincerely theiri, 



WILLIAM CLIFFORD. 



Which do I like best of Misses Elizabeth or Charlotte ? 



