Letter from Mrs. Martin to her brother Isidore CF 2
5 April 1863.
...Marie is still the same, she is doing very well and tells us about her “uncle” who is in Paris [Isidore Guérin young man].
Little Pauline now walks very well, she hardly ever falls, she is very cute and is starting to talk well. She does not have strong health, but she comes little by little. She knows almost everything by name. She's sitting next to me on the desk right now and she won't leave me alone, so what I'm writing is all wrong.
Do you think she already likes the toilet. When they tell her that she is going for a walk, she quickly runs to the closet where her best dress is and holds out her little face, saying: "Smear me." I find it all wonderful, as if it weren't quite natural...
