He
has had only foreign doctoring, and you know he never was strong in
languages. I heard of the medico here inquiring what precise
symptom der Englander meant by being "down in zie mout!" Poor Griff
is that, whatever else he is, and Selina does not see it, nor
anything else but her rouge et noir table. I am afraid he plays
too, when he is up to it, but he can't stand much of the stuffiness
of the place, and he respects my innocence, poor old beggar; so he
has kept out of it, since we have been here. He seems glad to have
me to look after him, but afraid to let me stay, for fear of my
falling a victim to the place. I can't well tell him that there is
a perpetual warning to youth in the persons of himself and his
Peacock. His mind might be vastly relieved if I were out of it, but
scarcely his body; and I shall not leave him till I hear from home.
Thomson says I am right. I should like to bring the poor old man
home for advice, especially if my lady could be left behind, and by
all appearances she would not object. Could not you come, or mamma?
Speak to papa about it. It is all so disgusting that I really could
not write to him. It is enough to break one's heart to see Griff
when he hears about home, and Edward, and Emily. I told him how
famously you were getting on, and he said, "It has been all up, up
with him, all down, down with me," and then he wanted me to fix my
day for leaving Baden, as if it were a sink of infection.
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