[Algiers,] Monday, 27 March 1882 

My Dear Child, 

I received your letter to-day (27 March); you know how delighted 
I am always to hear of you. My reports to you did not conceal the 
worst from you; so you may also feel quite sure that I simply tell the 
truth in announcing you that since the date of my last letter to you” 
my state of health is progressively improving. There is no longer in- 
somny (the worst of all), nor want of appetite, nor any violent charac- 
ter of cough, the latter indeed much subdued. Of course the vésicatot- 

* at fault- See this volume, pp. 217-19. 

res can, because of their intense action, only once a week be renewed; 
so the process of the healing of the membranes (the essential tissue of 
the organ has not at all suffered) on the left side wants some time. Of 
course the most unsteady weather, with sudden changes, storms, 
heats, colds, rain, in fact only a few good intervals,— the steady seas- 
onable air warm and ‘sec’ is still the great desideratum. When we just, 
like yesterday, had caught the decisive turning point—it was 
a beautiful day, and I had a promenade,— but to-day sky grey (with 
a nuance notratre‘), rain pouring down, wind howling. People here get 
it quite tired, for, it must not again and again be repeated: this such 
weather since December (inclus.) quite anormous in Algier. The 
thing was to inform oneself before starting on such a chasse aux otes sau- 
vages. 

Entre nous*: Though in the Isle of Wight ?4* the weather was un- 
favourable, but still my health improved so greatly that people won- 
dered when myself returning to London. But, then, I had éranquillity 
at Ventnor; at London, on the contrary, Engels’ excitement (La- 
fargue, too, a quack, thought ‘walking’, free air etc. were all I did 
want) in fact has upset me: I felt, I could not longer stand it; hence 
my impatience to get from London away on any condition whatever! 
People may kill some one out of real most sincere love; with all that 
nothing more dangerous in such cases for a reconvalescent! 

As I told you,’ dear child, I have had the good chance of having 
met with well-meaning, kind and unpretending people (French-Swiss 
and unmixed French, no German nor English in my Villa-Hotel). 
Mr Maurice Casthelaz functions as volunteer under the orders of 
Dr Stephann; no Nym# more careful or attentive. Hence, my child, 
do not worry yourself as to my fancied helpless situation. Enough of 
male and female helps; and, on the other hand, it is the privilege of a 
‘patient’ to be silent, to withdraw, etc., whenever I prefer the solitude 
or take no notice of the company. 

Generally I have altogether neglected the French, English etc. 
daily press; I read only the telegraphic news. What I had desired, f.i., 
was Longuet’s articles on the gréve" (Lafargue wrote me greatly 
praising those articles). As to Massard’s sottise,' I know to that mo- 
ment nothing save what you have written me. 

* vesicatories-” dry-° blackish tinge-" wild goose chase-* Between us-' See this 

volume, p. 219.-* Helene Demuth-” strike-' stupidity