to Mrs. Sitwell

[Barbizon, April 1875.]

MY DEAR FRIEND,—This is just a line to say I am well and happy.  I am here in my dear forest all day in the open air.  It is very be—no, not beautiful exactly, just now, but very bright and living.  There are one or two song birds and a cuckoo; all the fruit-trees are in flower, and the beeches make sunshine in a shady place, I begin to go all right; you need not be vexed about my health; I really was ill at first, as bad as I have been for nearly a year; but the forest begins to work, and the air, and the sun, and the smell of the pines.  If I could stay a month here, I should be as right as possible.  Thanks for your letter.—Your faithful

R. L. S.