Dearest Minnie, I have only time for a few lines before going into town to investigate one or two people suggested for Miss AndrewsGÇÖ [illegible], to tell you how sorry I was and am about what I know must be a disappointment to you about Bessie, even though you knew that it was to a certain extent experimental. You know how trying the weather was when you left so hot and dry and dusty, but although it lasted until yesterday, Bessie improved a little. Last night it rained and today the air is fresh and full of life and she is really decidedly better and has driven over to Evergreen and back, besired writing, sketching a little and talking more or less. You know of course just how it was, and how loth [sic] I was to say anything to influence her, but you know also how much afraid they were at home of her going and when I found how used up and tired she was by the coming down from Montebello and the excitement of seeing even so few people again, I realized that the mere journey on would probably knock her up completely for a time. On Tuesday she went into town to decide about it, and as you know came out again in the afternoon, having made up her mind not to go for the present and when I saw how very tired she was even after that, I felt sure she had decided wisely. It has been a great disappointment to her, for I think she had been building on it confidently, but she has been as plucky as usual and has been so sweet and attractive. You know this is the first time she has spent any time here now for a long time and it is such a pleasure to have her once more to me and to Julia too, that if you realized it, you would perhaps not regret the change of plan. It is so nice to see that she is really gaining too, of course it is very quiet and dull for her, but as long as she gets better, I shall not think it hurts. There is the carriage, so I must say goodbye. Yours, Mary E.G.