Letter from Mrs. Martin CF 108
To Mr. Martin
Lisieux, August 31, 1873.
My dear Louis,
We arrived last night at half past four; my brother was waiting for us at the station and was delighted to see us. He does all he can, as does his wife, to provide us with distractions.
This evening, Sunday, there is a beautiful reception at their place in our honor. Tomorrow Monday, departure for Trouville; Tuesday, a big dinner at Madame Maudelonde's and perhaps a drive to Madame Fournet's country house. The children are delighted; if the weather were fine, they would be overjoyed.
But me, I'm hard to relax! None of this interests me! I am absolutely like the fish you pull out of the water; they are no longer in their element, they must perish!
It would have the same effect on me if my stay were to be much longer. I feel ill at ease, I'm not on my plate, which affects the physical and I'm almost sick. However, I reason with myself and try to gain the upper hand; I am in your spirit all day; I say to myself: “He is doing such a thing at the moment. »
I long to be with you, my dear Louis; I love you with all my heart, and I still feel my affection redoubled by the privation I feel of your presence; it would be impossible for me to live away from you.
I attended three masses this morning: I went to that at six o'clock, I said my thanksgiving and my prayers during that at seven o'clock, and I returned to high mass.
My brother is not unhappy with business; they are doing quite well.
Tell Léonie and Céline that I embrace them tenderly and that I will bring them a souvenir from Lisieux.
I'll try to write to you tomorrow, if possible, but I don't know what time we'll be back from Trouville. I hurry; I am expected to make visits. We return Wednesday evening, at half past seven. That seems long to me!
I kiss you as I love you. The little girls recommend me to tell you that they are very happy to have come to Lisieux and they kiss you very much.
