Absence from home, and weak health occasioned by fresh cares, together with the very meagre amount of the information you desired[1] which I have to send is the reason why you have not heard from me earlier. I was so much pleased to receive another of your kind letters! We thank you very much for your good Paschal wishes, and I can assure you that we highly appreciate a Priest's Blessing.

The bearer of your letter called here with it one Sunday afternoon before we had returned from Vespers, so that we did not see her; but had we been at home, we could have given her no information of the kind she needed,p2as we are perfectly ignorant of mercantile affairs, none of our family on either side being engaged in commercial pursuits. However she has probably long since met with competent advisers on that point.

When we were lately at Brighton the Nuns (Sisters of Mercy)[2] asked me to choose a cell for myself, and I took the opportunity of making a few inquiries as to the admission of a Belgian novice. The Reverend Mother said that the choice of a convent would be regulated by the vocation, and that she thought one would be admitted into any convent, provided that she were a good girl, that the references were satisfactory, and that she brought with her a pension,p3the amount of which would vary with the convent. You did not say whether the person you mention is of gentle birth, or otherwise. +[3] I have heard of servants being admitted at some convents, who take with them each only £ 5. There is one at Hammersmith for the reception of penitents who are not in the same part of the convent as the novices. These nuns devote themselves to the reformation of penitents.

I am so happy about your intention having been granted! I put it into the Confraternity of The Precious Blood, at the Oratory at the time you mentioned it, and now I shall put in our thanksgiving next Sunday, if I do not forget to do so again. I ought to have put it in earlier,

+ I do not know whether it would make any difference.p4but since our return a fortnight ago, I have forgotten it on each Sunday, but I never forget it when I am at the Altar of the Sacred Heart, or that of Our Lady.

I am anxious and unhappy about Fr Christie, who has been very seriously ill, and away, I miss him sadly, not having seen him since Holy Week. He has been greatly overworked, and the rest and change which he so greatly needed has not yet restored him. I believe he is coming back very soon now, but the joy of all his children at the prospect of his speedy return is considerably damped by hearing that he is still much out of health. Pray for him.

My new Convert (my sister in law) enjoys her newly found happiness extremely, but my brother whom I thought nearer than he seemsp5now to be, is much displeased at the step she has taken, and told her so. He and I never mention the subject, and the rest are equally forbearing with me which is very good of them, but he thinks it his duty to take her her[4] to task. I am disappointed at finding he is further from the truth than we imagined, so at present I am trying first for two persons who are nearer.

My present crosses are my servants; they give me no peace, although they profess the greatest attachment to me! I could secure our own comfort just now, by taking a Protestant Housemaid, who is well recommended and anxious to come and live with us, but there is no telling how it might affect the Cook,[5] for servants exercise so much influence over each other, she might lose her religon or perhaps be alwaysp6quarrelling. I think it is my destiny to be in perpetual Purgatory, and console myself by thinking that I shall have no servants in Heaven to look after. I am sorry to say that we should not suffer in this way except from Catholic servants, but I scarcely like to set the example of refusing to take them and having Protestants instead. I believe old Catholics, that is born Catholics, manage them better; because they are more strict with them, and are not so easily imposed upon, but they (the servants) always prefer living with converts, I am told.

Enfant de Marie[6]p7I am so ignorant as not to know the correct way of addressing a letter to a Priest abroad. Will you teach me? In English, we should put,

The Reverend

Guido Gezelle.