to me. But Mie Mie will be there to-morrow. Les parens ont change
d'avis, and I must go to Lyons to fetch (her). God knows how much
further I would go to conduct her safely, but I was made to believe
there was no occasion for it. I expected her here on Friday next, or
on this day sevennight. Combien de termps faut-il que je sois le
jouet des caprices des autres?

Mrs. Webb also is not in a good state of health for travelling so
far or so fast. I have had a letter from Warner; he has seen the
Baron, who was charged, I find, with a commission to you. . . .

I shall write to you from Lyons; but when I shall hear from you the
Lord knows, and I want to hear how the children do.

Ma patience et ma perseverance sont inepuisables sur ce qui regarde
Mie Mie. Je me croyois tranquillement etabli ici. J'aurai des
entretiens avec la mere, qui ne sont pas toujours composes avec du
miel. "Helas! Rende mi figlia mia." Voila ou j'en reviens. Adieu.
Ayez un peu de pitie de tous mes embarras, qui ne finissent pas.

(143) See Chapter 1: "In the spring it was arranged that the
Marchesa Fragniani should bring Mie Mie to Paris . . ."


(1780,) Sept. 11, Monday morning, 7 o'clock, Matson.--You will
receive a long letter from me to-day; and this will come to you on
Wednesday; so by these repeated courtesies you will see that I have
no repugnance to writing, although you have, and that I am very well
pleased to go on in my old way of scribbling, as long as I am
convinced that it is agreeable to you. But a line now and then is