[1]

W. Hackhurst

Sunday 15 May 82

My own dear mother-

Your letter has come & filled my heart. It is so sweet of you to tell me again how Father cared for my being at Down - & nothing you could say would make me happier – I cannot help still having bitter regrets for all the precious time I wasted - often sitting about down

[Later insertion:] Thank you for sending me W's letter – I like to see what he says so much.

[1v]

stairs when I might have gone up & have had a little bits with you upstairs.

But I hope he did know how much I loved him - & though I shall never forget the memory of things I said which vexed him & to feel how much keener I might have been to watch for the things which pleased him, I hope that the sweetness

[2]

& magnanimity of his nature prevented him from remembering them. I have a storehouse of the sweetest looks & words to remember.

It makes me so happy dear mother, is have you say that you care to tell me everything.

I do think of you so much day & night & the thought is so often present to me of what it must be to you

[2v]

to have no one to tell things to. I know we cannot fill the gap – but it is such a blessed feeling to me that you do care for my love. & that you will lean upon it.

I think you hardly know how precious you are to us.

I sometimes feel such a passionate wish to cherish & comfort you almost as if you were my child as well as my dearest mother.