April 1891 / Dear Mary, / I'm so mis'ble - I can't / go on Tuesday. / For Why? Because I / such a sore throat - have / been shut up for three days / four days, in its horrid / company - and unless the / weather changes, must be / indoors for days yet. / So it would be useless for me / to dream of Tuesday - / O. I am a wretched creature / always having colds - no / good on earth to my friends / who cannot come upon me / from day to day. / What is to be done? / You will go there, won't you / not to disappoint that little / man - in a week I / may be quite well and / able to do anything in / the way of a jaunt. / But now I am quite ? / with this throat-weakness, / which lets me not sleep / nor even breathe with / happiness. / Oh. / I wouldn't put you off till the / very last - till it was quite / clear that no reprieve / would come - and so goes / my day's holiday I had / really looked forward to. / Ever Your affect. afflicted / E.B.J.