Leigh Hunt letter to Marianne Kent Hunt, June 5, 1809

              Monday 5th June 
1809  

My dearest Marian,  

So you have a mind to punish me for not writing to you on Saturday, and yet I think I have been pretty regular hitherto. I was present this morning when Mrs. Hunter & Bess received their letters, & went home as soon as I could in /order/ hope of receiving one myself: I need not say how I was disappointed: you could not have punished me better. However I did write to you on Saturday, & have had the letter in my pocket ever since, for I was a few minutes too late for the postman, and you will recollect that on Saturday afternoon I hardly know which way to turn: the letter was very short, and written in a very slovenly manner, so it is as well perhaps you did not have it. - I hope it is not your dancing that has given you the head-ache. Don't you think it was rather bold to dance, not only with several gentlemen, but with gentlemen "half a head taller than the Prince and bulky in proportion"? I intended to have quizzed you a little for these laborious gaieties of a sick damsel, but your dear letter of Thursday quite disarmed me, and I began to think that it was all very proper, so as you still loved me - as I am sure you do from the bottom of your heart. Only you must recollect that a few days before you could hardly walk a street's length. Perhaps however the country has already don you a great deal of service - the more the better, for then you know