om. It just holds my
series of Gobelins we bought for that outrageous price two years ago in
Paris at the Marquis de Shotteau's sale. For flowers, I had quantities
of gorgeous palms and lovely cut flowers in bowls and vases wherever it
was possible. That was all,--I hate this stuffing a house with
half-fading flowers, it always suggests a funeral to me, with the
banked-up mantels for coffins. It's horrid, I know, but I can't help
it. However, if I am writing in this vein it's time I stopped. My
letter is abnormally long as it is--I hope the right number of stamps
will be put on it. Forgive me for mentioning it, my dear, but we always
have to pay double postage due on your epistles. I don't mind at
all--they are quite worth it--only I thought you might like to know.

I have all the newspapers about the ball for you, but I will wait till
after Thursday and then send them on in a package. I want to see what
_Town Topics_ will say. Nobody cares, of course, only you don't like to
see horrid things about you in print. Sometimes it treats me very well,
and it's devoted to Helen, but once in a while it's atrocious. I'm only
a little worried about Lord ----. I don't want it to say I am after him
for Helen, because I am _not_! If the English papers have anything in,
please send them over--I know some articles are going to be written. If
there are any of them absurd and extravagant accounts, of course you
will take pains to contradict them. The English press seems often
determined to make American society ridiculous.

Will says we will be greatly indebted to your husband if he will get
us a house for the season, as you proposed. Carleton House Terrace,
if possible; if not, use your own judgment, only not Grosvenor
Square--they make too much fun of strangers who go there. I hope you
are well and taking some sort of care of yourself, which you know you
never do. And please, if you go to Paris at Easter, be sure to write us
at once if sleeves are still growing smaller, if hats are big or
little, and whether it's feathers or flowers, or both. Also, of course,
anything else that will help us. And don't forget to find out all you
can about Lord ----. And do you advise announcing the engagement before
her presentation, or afterward? And by no means say a word to anybody,
as he hasn't proposed yet. By the way, Will is violently opposed to it.
But I think Helen and I together will be too much for him, and if
absolutely necessary _my healt