CHEISTMAS-TEEE. 
27 
against them that their progress must be very slow^ indeed at times 
impossible. Ah ! those treacherous wiiids^ how they failed us ! 
Poor Miss Capellan wept^ and Peth, and myself were not without 
fears^ because^ what might the news be ? if bad for her^ we will 
try to console ; and if the fair travellers are well and continue their 
inland journey^ why^ we will bring her with us to Alexandria : she 
is so sad and lonely. Petherick sent at once my dromedary with 
servant to Walld Shalli, I greatly enjoyed the packing of baskets 
with home-made breads vegetables^ limes, papers^ and letters for 
the looked-for ladies. 
Miss Capellan remained with us_, and in the evening the long- 
expected post arrived; but I was so agitated that very little was 
read : the Christmas cards and perfumed sachets from your Christ- 
mas-tree brought dear old England vividly to me/^ 
March IMh. 
So many letters^ sister mine_, from you^, dating from 
the 27th of November^ 1863, to the 24th of January, 1864, with 
all enclosures, papers, extracts relative to that cruel Speke, &c., 
that I only finished perusing them this morning; and you can- 
not be surprised that little fits of fever come. I am now working 
to send off a post to-day, if only to convey our thanks to you 
and dear Peter, and to his friends for their sympathy. In a few 
days I will go more into our troubles ; but, oh ! Mona dear, what 
consolation found I when reading to Petherick yesterday Unto 
the upright there ariseth light in the darkness ^ ! the day will dawn. 
I do assure you, sister, that the shocking things said of us hardly 
pain me, because I feel that all will be made clear. The evening 
of the day you receive this ask your children to read the CVII. and 
