Mon Ange,—­I went to see the wet-nurse’s kinsfolk, and there learned that the fiance had written to her last Wednesday and revealed all to her; so the matter will go as God directs.  If you chanced to intercept the letter, and on receipt of this have not yet delivered it, please delay it until my next arrives.  I could not find the fiance himself, and directed him to come to me this evening, and shall write you what I learn from him.  If Friederike knows everything already, my wishes will reach you too late; otherwise I should like, if in accordance with medical opinion, not to have the wet-nurse sent away altogether, but only relieved from service for a few hours or days; if, however, there are scruples on that point, it can’t be done, of course.  From my many doubts, you will see that I cannot decide the matter very well at this distance.  Act quite in accordance with the advice of your mother and the other experienced friends.  I give my views, merely, not commands. * * * Be content with these lines for today; be courageous and submissive to God’s will, my darling; all will surely go well.  Cordial remembrances to the parents.

Your most faithful

v.B.

Berlin, Friday. (Postmark, August 17, ’49.)

Dearest Nanne,—­ * * * Your last letter, in which you inform me of the happy solution of the wet-nurse difficulty, took a real load off my heart; I thanked God for His mercy, and could almost have got drunk from pure gayety.  May His protection extend henceforward, too, over you and the little darling.  I am living with Hans here at the corner of Taubenstrasse, three rooms and one alcove, quite elegant, but narrow little holes; Hans’ bed full of bugs, but mine not as yet—­I seem not to be to their taste.  We pay twenty-five rix-dollars a month, together.  If there were one additional small room, and not two flights of stairs, I could live with you here, and Hans could get another apartment below in this house.  But, as it is, it would be too cramped for us.  I have talked with the fiance of the wet-nurse, a modest-looking person.  He spoke of her with love, and declared in reply to my question that he certainly is willing to marry her.  What he wrote about the “white pestilence” is nonsense; no such sickness exists, least of all in Berlin.  The cholera is fast disappearing.  I have not heard a word more about it since I came here; one sees it only in newspaper reports.  Isn’t our mammy jealous because, according to the paper, I have been in company with “strikingly handsome” Englishwomen?  Lady Jersey was really something uncommon, such as is usually seen only in keepsakes.  I would have paid a rix-dollar admission if she had been exhibited for money.  She is now in Vienna.  For the rest, I have not had a letter from you this long time; my last news comes from Bernhard, who left you a week ago today.  God has upheld you meantime, I trust,