[Ventnor,] 10 January 1883 

Dear Child, 

The enclosed letter from Lafargue (be so kind as to send it back 
sometime) reassured me greatly on Jennychen’s account, although 
Lafargue may have painted too rosy a picture out of consideration 
for me; but it does seem as though the immediate danger is over. 

Charming, the accounts of Wolf and Pa* (who is now an IDOLATER 
or Wolf's), etc. 

As things are at present (and Engels agrees with me over this) it 
would be a most unfavourable moment to send Johnny off to Argen- 
teuil. He cannot go back until Jenny is again in a condition to look after 
her household. All one must concentrate on is the main issue, not less- 
er considerations, and it was those that were very nearly the death of 
Jenny. What difference would a few months here or there make, quite 
apart from the fact that the poor boy would, from the start, be pre- 
cipitated into chaos. 

I hope, Tussychen, that you will at once write to Jennychen telling 
her what I have said. I shall today drop Longuet a line on this sub- 
ject, addressed to the Justice. 

You must let Johnnychen have news of his brothers and sister; you 
will, of course, also give Lenchen the main gist of Lafargue’s letter. 

Yesterday the weather was horrible; today, too, it looks damp and 
far from ‘glorious’. But I shall, I think, [take] my ‘consrirutionat’ to- 

day [...]°