ALWAYS YOUR OWN HUSBAND.
January 17, 1882.
MY OWN QUEENIE,—The large paper is very good, the best for the purpose of any you have tried yet.
Your husband is so happy that you have at last been left free for a time.
Queenie may send her letters from any place about that she likes, but she had best not write direct, as there is a very sharp-eyed man over the letters.
Very much lighter writing will do, and it might be written between the lines of the ordinary ink, but it is best not to risk anything just now.
I think Brighton will do very well if Wifie likes it, and if it would be safe for her to be so far from London. Her King could be there quite well, as he intends to take a holiday when released, and will not go to work at once.
Have just received formal and usual notice of further detention, first three months being up. The other two have also received theirs. This has no significance one way or the other, as nobody has ever been released at the end of the exact period. My own Wifie must try and keep herself well and strong. Does she feel so? I wish I could be with my poor darling.
It is really the only reason why I wish for a change, and my Queenie's loneliness and weariness makes me very unhappy. Yesterday and to-day as three of us were exercising in our yard the gates in adjoining yard leading into the outer world were opened twice to permit some carts to come in and go out. A low wall only separated the two yards, across which we could have easily sprung; there was no warder in our yard, and only one in the next, with his back turned to us. So, you see, we can get out whenever we want to. Trying to escape is six months with hard labour, so we have nothing to gain by it, even if they keep us till end of Act in October, which they are not at all likely to do.
YOUR OWN LOVING HUSBAND.