"22 RUE DE L'OUEST PARIS. Lundi.
"Je suis arrivé hier à 5 h. du soir. Je ne suis pas du tout fatigué, ce qui semble indiquer une augmentation de force, car tu sais que les longs voyages me fatiguent généralement beaucoup. Je suis allé ce matin dès 8 h. chez Delâtre oû j'ai fait tirer mes planches. On fait le tirage de suite et les livraisons paraîtront cette semaine.
"Quant à mes pauvres enfants, je suis désolé de les savoir malades, mais ta lettre m'encourage à espérer qu'ils sont en bonne voie de convalescence. Tu as dû avoir un temps difficile à passer ainsi tout seule: chère petite femme, je crois que si j'y avais été c'eût été plus facile pour toi: les enfants de mon ami Pearce sont également malades de la scarlatine.
"Hier soir j'ai dîné chez Froment [the artist who paints such beautiful decorative works for Sèvres]; ce matin j'ai déjeuné chez Froment, ce soir j'y dîne, et ainsi de suite."
M. Froment had been most hospitable to both of us during our stay in Paris; he had given us a day at Sèvres, and had shown us the Manufacture in all its details. He was a widower, and inconsolable for the loss of his wife, whose memory was as sacred to him as religion. His two daughters were at home; the eldest watching maternally over the younger sister, who, however, died a few years later. M. Froment's feelings, perceptions, and tastes were exquisitely refined, and my husband derived both benefit and pleasure from the friendly intercourse. In after years Gilbert met M. Froment occasionally, and found him always full of kindness and regard.
After nursing the children through scarlatina I caught it myself, and when my husband knew of it, he wrote:—
"I write just to say how sorry I am not to be able to set off at once, and be at your bedside. I shall certainly not be later than Saturday. I am of course very busy, and have no time for letter-writing. I have seen Docteur Dereims to-day, and told him of your illness. He insists on the necessity of the greatest care during your convalescence. You must especially avoid cold drinks, as highly dangerous.
"Things are going on as I wish for my book on Etching. I am getting hold of plates which alone would make it valuable. Pray take care of yourself. I wish I were with you."
On the following day:—
"I am very sorry to hear you had such a bad night; but from all I can hear from Dr. Dereims you are only going through the usual course of the illness. I will be with you on Saturday without fail. You may count upon me as upon an attentive, though not, I fear, a very skilful nurse. But I will try, like some other folks, to make up in talk what I lack in professional skill. I am tolerably well, but rather upset by this news from Pré-Charmoy. I could not sleep much last night.