My children are all well, dear Friend. Herbert is going to spend his holidays with his brother in Wales--& we shall all go to Colne as usual the end of this month & remain there through August and September; so if you think of it, address any paper you may send [to] Earls Colne, Halstead, because I should get it a day sooner. But it does not signify if you forget & send it here; it will be forwarded all right. Beatrice has just got through one of the Govern. Exams. in elementary mathematics; and I hope Herby has got into the Academy, but do not know for certain yet. He works away zealously and with great delight in his work. William Rossetti and his wife are coming to dine with us Wednesday--they look so well and happy, it does one good to see them. The Conways are going to Ostend, I think, for their holiday, & when they come back [are] going to move into a larger house. I heard an American lady, Miss Whitman, sing at a concert the other day, who delighted me, fascinated me--I longed to kiss her after each song, though some of them were poor enough Verdi stuff--but she contrived to impart genuineness & beauty to them. I hope you will hear her when she returns to America, which will be soon, I believe. Good-bye, dearest Friend. Beatrice, Herby & Grace join their love with mine. I had the sweet little Bridal Poem all safe, & by the bye I liked that Springfield paper very much. Your loving ANNIE. LETTER XXIII ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN _Earls Colne Sept. 3, 1874._ MY DEAREST FRIEND: