212 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xv 



mind. Be sure you don't say when you get it, " Well it's 

 a wonder such a little idiot could make a decent stool." 



I think a great deal of the delightful winter we spent 

 with you. The part which gives me by far most pleasure 

 to think of is your affection for us, and your and my dear 

 uncle's sympathizing with us in all our pleasures. My 

 dearest aunt Jessie I hope you know how tenderly I love 

 you, but it is no use telling it to you for you will believe it 



without ' Your affectionate, 



EMMA W. 



Madame Sismondi to her niece Emma Wedgwood. 



CHENE, May 2lst [1828]. 



I have received by Edward your pretty stool, my dear 

 little Emma. You cannot imagine the pleasure it gives 

 me, since I have done nothing but lament my folly in 

 having given away the other to a person who cares nothing 

 about me. I confess this you have sent me is still prettier 

 and admirably worked, and I am at last consoled for the 

 loss of the other, though you can give me no consolation 

 for being a fool. 



One always takes liberties with those one loves. I felt 

 I loved you enough and you me to need no assurances of 

 form between us, and put by writing to you as a pleasant 

 task that awaited my leisure. While John and Fanny 

 [Allen] were with me I gave myself a complete holy day. 

 Alas ! it was but for one short eight days, but it was more 

 than I had expected, and I felt very grateful and satisfied 

 and enjoyed the week extremely. The good spirits they 

 gave me gave me also strength, and I walked with them 

 sometimes near a mile, tho' I had hardly mounted the 

 staircase without help before they came. Both were pleased 

 with their journey, and John spoke in the highest terms of 

 the incomparable companion he found in Fanny. And well 

 he might, for independent of the attention she pays him and 

 all the care she takes of his health and pleasure, she never 

 gives herself any holyday in her efforts to entertain him. 



