August 17 Monday – At noon in Guildford, Sam finished his Aug. 16 letter to Livy.

Monday noon. Chatto is evidently off on his vacation. I do not hear from him.

I enclose a letter received this morning, about the photos. It has no signature, but I suppose it is from Miss Blood — so I have answered it.

The maids are excellent. They do everything necessary for Mr. Smythe & me, & keep the house in nice order.

(Susy dear I hope you are well & in no pain; that will make Mamma happy. You have had a bitter affliction, poor child) [note — Sam’s parentheses are square brackets].

…Livy darling, you are so good & dear & steadfast & fine — the highest & finest & loveliest character I have ever known; & I was never worthy of you. You should have been the prize of a better man — a man up nearer to your own level. But I love you with all my heart, from my proper place at your feet.

After his signature Sam wrote, “Chatto has come”; and that he was mailing the letter today for the steamer New York and would mail another letter the next day for the Wednesday steamer [LLMT 318-9]. Note: No Aug. 18 letter from Sam to Livy is extant.

In Hartford, daughter Susy was in a coma, hovering near death.