IQ4 A- Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xiv 



to know how many head of game have been killed. He and 

 Erasmus are quite troublesome in being so fond of letters 

 from home. 



Emma Wedgwood to her mother. 



GENEVA, 25 March, 1827. 



I see you, as well as we, are thinking about our coming 

 home. I hope you will settle about the time. It will be 

 much pleasanter with respect *to aunt Jessie that she should 

 not think us wanting to go away. Aunt Jessie was thinking 

 of our making a little tour with Frank. I know we should 

 enjoy it very much, but we have already had so much 

 pleasure and been so long from home, that if you and Papa 

 had rather we came home sooner, we shall be perfectly 

 satisfied. I assure you I do not wish anything about it. 

 And you are always so ready to give us pleasure that I am 

 sure you will, if you have not some good objection or 

 wish. . . . 



Aunt Jessie has just given me leave to tell you of Edward's 

 love affair, which I have been longing to do all thro' this 

 letter. However you must keep it a secret till you hear of 

 it from aunt Drewe. He has fallen in love and proposed 

 to Adele Prevost and she has accepted him, to our great 

 surprise, as she is 24 [Edward being 21]. Aunt Jessie 

 wrote a fortnight ago to aunt D. about it. For my part I 

 think she will make a very nice wife for him. She is rather 

 pretty but very old looking. Adele's father gives a reluc- 

 tant consent in case aunt D. has no objection. The court- 

 ship was very short; I don't think he met her 10 times 

 before he proposed and was accepted. I think you saw her 

 when you were here. She has the most sober, steady 

 manners, and not at all the sort of person to fall desper- 

 ately in love. What a pity I did not begin this delightful 

 subject before; now I have no more room. It amuses me 

 very much, but aunt Jessie is vexed about it. Good bye 

 dearest Mamma. Your affectionate EMMA W. 



