Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray

           17,ChathamStreet 

           Wednesday 

           MydearestMina, 

           Imustsayyoutaxmeveryunfairlywithbeingabadcorrespondent. Iwroteyoutwicesinceweparted,andyourlastletterwasonlyyoursecond. Besides,Ihavenothingtotellyou. Thereisreallynothingtointerestyou. 

           Townisverypleasantjustnow,andwegoagreatdealtopicture-galleriesandforwalksandridesinthepark. Astothetall,curly-hairedman,IsupposeitwastheonewhowaswithmeatthelastPop. Someonehasevidentlybeentellingtales. 

           ThatwasMr.Holmwood. Heoftencomestoseeus,andheandMammagetonverywelltogether,theyhavesomanythingstotalkaboutincommon. 

           Wemetsometimeagoamanthatwouldjustdoforyou,ifyouwerenotalreadyengagedtoJonathan. Heisanexcellentparti,beinghandsome,welloff,andofgoodbirth. Heisadoctorandreallyclever. Justfancy! Heisonlynine-andtwenty,andhehasanimmenselunaticasylumallunderhisowncare. Mr.Holmwoodintroducedhimtome,andhecalledheretoseeus,andoftencomesnow. IthinkheisoneofthemostresolutemenIeversaw,andyetthemostcalm. Heseemsabsolutelyimperturbable. Icanfancywhatawonderfulpowerhemusthaveoverhispatients. Hehasacurioushabitoflookingonestraightintheface,asiftryingtoreadone’sthoughts. Hetriesthisonverymuchwithme,butIflattermyselfhehasgotatoughnuttocrack. Iknowthatfrommyglass.