| Description | William has had the pleasant surprise of Hope arriving from Bombay [Mumbai]. He has had fever and is weak and thin, but intends to run up country. William describes him but they cannot travel together, as he will not be strong enough when William starts next Monday. They have agreed to go part of the way together. William means to see Joypoor [Jaipur] 'the finest kind of old native towns in India...perfectly Italian'. He describes the 'feudal state', and says that John will not be able to accompany him. He has said adieu to his first love, whose name, William now knows, was Miss Ida Brown. William has met John's friends Hennessey and Gordon, the former has done John good in his letters and John admires him for having fought his way up the tree in the [Great Trigonometrical] Survey. John's photograph has a careworn aspect. [William] Waterfield has been up to Cawnpore [Kanpur] and William will see him on his way to Dehra. William joins his appointment at Maldah for three months, after which he and Waterfield will take the first steamer home in May. He notes an alterative arrangement for home travel. He refers to Maggie's illness and gives directions for future mail. William concludes by saying he may not have to go to Maldah after all as the resident is out of danger. |