| Still there are many advantages here & the drawbacks are such as I expected, being inseparable from a school. The windows in the parlour are generally hermetically closed & our bedroom window which overlooks a piece of mountain-land has a blind which resists all attempts to draw it up, or to remove it.

Then when rain keeps us in doors, there is a piano constantly going, which execrations will not silence or it would be mute for ever!—

The regular recurrence of the meals is like the march of destiny—inexorable:—I might sooner move the heavens than retard or hasten supper or breakfast here.

| Miss Davies is always surprised at our eagerness to be out of doors, but the missing of a meal would be an incomprehensible piece of eccentricity in her eyes. Be that as it may I do not intend to take many more “teas” here: the other three meals we are booked for. They haunt me like ghouls—the four monsters—Breakfast, dinner, tea & supper:—they cast shadows before them & behind them & one treads upon the heels of the other.

By the time we have finished the tea we are near the appointed time for supper.

All this I hope may be improved:—I have already | made some innovations & shall make more. Till now I have been solely occupied in finding out about the “nourishment”. I was dreadfully afraid Tussy might be starved & at once laid in a stock of biscuits.—

I gave Miss Davies two pieces of information which she received very quietly:—that I should not go to church on the coming sunday & that I never intended coming home before 9 o'clock. At 9 we sup: talk for an hour with a white dog & then retire to our room where I find just rushlight enough to undress & use my machinery:—

| It rains here, a good deal & till now we have been unable to go field-wards.

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Hastings is a divine place & I will uphold its praise against all the costermongers in the world who cry up Margate. Is it the fault of Hastings if Miss Davies has boarders & an old maiden-lady friend called Cax?—

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The money arrived here this morning:—I thank you for it & wanted it: for although I had spent nothing but what I was obliged to on bathing-tickets—cab—& some work—I had only a few pence left.—

Your affectionate Laura.