My dear Mrs. Martin,--I am happy to be able to tell you that Mr. Garden was here two days ago, and that he has not thought it necessary to adopt any violent measure with regard to our beloved invalid. He seems entirely to rely, for her ultimate restoration, upon a discipline as to diet, and a course of strengthening medicine. This is most satisfactory to us; and her spirits have been soothed and tranquillised by his visit. She has slept quietly for the last few nights, and reports herself to be _brisker_ and stronger, and to be comparatively free from pain. This account is, perhaps, too favorable,[7] and will appear so to you when you see her, as I am afraid you will, not looking much better, _much_ more cheerful, than when you paid us your last visit. But when we are very _willing_ to hope, we are apt to be too _ready_ to hope: though really, without being _too_ sanguine, we may consider quiet nights and diminished pain to be satisfactory signs of amendment. I know you will be glad to hear of them, and I hope you will _witness_ them very soon, in spite of this repulsive snow. It will do mama good, and I am sure it will give us all pleasure, to benefit by some of your charitable pilgrimages over the hill. With our best regards, and sincerest thanks for your kind interest Believe me, dear Mrs. Martin, most truly yours, E.B. BARRETT. [Footnote 7: Mrs. Browning usually spells such words as 'favour,' 'honour,' and the like, without the _u_, after the fashion which one is accustomed to regard as American.] _To Miss Commeline_ Hope End: Monday, [October 1828]. My dear Miss Commeline,--Thank you for the sympathy and interest which you have extended towards us in our heavy affliction. Even _you_ cannot know _all_ that we have lost; but God knows, and it has pleased Him to take away the blessing that He gave. And all _must_ be right since He doeth all! Indeed we did not foresee this great grief! If we had we could not have felt it less; but I should not then have been denied the consolation of being with her at the last. It is idle to speak now of such thoughts, and circumstances have unquestionably been rightly and mercifully ordered. We are all well and composed--poor papa supporting us by his own surpassing fortitude. It is an inexpressible comfort to me to witness his calmness.