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[circled] 199

Monticello Dec 12^th/57-

Dear Cousin Robert:

How many more
times I shall have to make excuses
to you for not answering your letters, I
know not, can you ever ^Ever forgive me for
my long silence! I fear not, perhaps
even now your brow is clouded with
vexation, that I have so treated you, or
perhaps you say to your self will Nellie
cares nothing for me (like any naughty
boy would you know) so I wont care
whether she writes to me or not; but
perhaps these are all imaginings
with me and you think nothing
at all about it; I am afraid cousin
mine that you are so devoted to your
Natural History that you will not
love me so well as you once did