The Letters of Rachel Henning

My Dearest Annie,

I was so rejoiced to see your handwriting again and to get the two
letters from you and Biddulph. How kind it was of you to write twice to
me before the ship sailed, in the midst of all the confusion there must
have been on board!

What a wretched day that Thursday was! After I had watched the steam-tug
you went by, out of sight, I came back to the pier, for I could not rest
anywhere else while I knew the ship was still in the river, and I saw the
last steamer, with Mr Bright and his friends and the mail, go Off; but
they refused to let me go,

After that I went up in the town, shopping. But came down to the magnetic
pier again in the afternoon, but the Great Britain had then gone down the
river; so, finding it was all over, I betook myself to our lodgings,
where perhaps it was as well that I had my hands full of work till quite
late at night.

I do not know why I am writing you this long account d that miserable
day. Before this reaches you, it will be one of the many black days we
have to look back upon in our lives. It is already a past thing, and I
suppose we shall not always have such a vivid remembrance of it as I have
now.

You left behind you your two teaspoons after all. I am so sorry I forgot
them. Everything. you or Biddulph have had or used seems valuable now;
certainly the way to be valued and missed is to go to Australia. I think
I shall try it next year, and see if it will arouse my friends to a due
sense of my merits, but I am sure nobody could miss me as I do you and
darling Biddulph. Even here I am reminded of you by something every hour
of the day.

COLCHESTER,
SEPTEMBER 27TH