Queenie need not be in the least anxious about me. I have been getting my meals from the Governor's kitchen up to the present, but to-morrow we return to the old arrangement of being supplied from the outside. Nominally we are to get only one meal a day from the outside, but in reality they will permit those who wish and can afford it to get the other two meals as well from outside, at their own expense, of course, and those who are with me in these quarters intend to do this. I do not receive any letters from any ladies I know, except one from Mrs. S., shortly after I came here. She wrote to sympathize, and said she had been ill. I replied after a time, asking how _you_ were, but forgot to ask how _she_ was, and she has not written since. Am glad to say that none of my "young women" have written. Let me know as soon as he goes and I will write you home. Government are not likely to go out for a while, but they will scarcely go out without letting me out first. YOUR OWN KING. _December_ 30, 1881. MY OWN QUEENIE,--Your two letters just received but not read yet. I hope Wifie is sleeping better and getting stronger like her husband. I am very nervous about the doctors, and you should at all events tell one of them the right time, so that he may be on hand, otherwise you may not have one at all. It will never do to run this risk. I will write Queenie a long letter to-night. [1] My parlourmaid. [2] Captain O'Shea was staying at Eltham for some days. [3] Prison fare. [4] Captain O'Shea. {139} CHAPTER XV MORE KILMAINHAM LETTERS "_The soul of a philosopher will consider that it is the office of philosophy to set her free._"--SOCRATES. _January_ 3, 1882. MY OWN DARLING QUEENIE,--Many happy New Years, my own love, with your husband to make you happy. My Queenie must take great care of herself, and must be sure to have at least one doctor in February. It will never do to let it trust to chance. There is every prospect of my being able to see my darling soon, but it does not do to be too sure, as things change so much from day to day. _January_ 7, 1882. MY OWN QUEENIE,--If Queenie could see her husband reading her letters over and over again every night she would have more faith in their readable quality and power for giving her husband happiness than she can have in looking at the blank paper as the result of her work. The paper of that of the 6th, which reached me to-day, is exactly suited; but Wifie, in sending two sheets, one of them quite blank, makes a bad conspirator, but I must forgive her, as the result is by no means blank to me.