Dated "May 20th" by Ellen Freeman.
Dating: Hearn's relationship with Ellen Freeman seems to have formed in 1875. In 1876, they argued, and in 1877 Hearn moved to New Orleans.--Cf. A fantastic journey: the life and literature of Lafcadio Hearn, by Paul Murray (1993), p. 45 and Letters from the Raven, ed. Milton Bronner (1906), p. 113.
Part of a collection of correspondence between Lafcadio Hearn, Ellen Freeman, and Henry Watkin. Letters are described in individual catalog records; see collection level record for more information.
Thanking him for answering her letter, noting that she was fearful of having offended him. Discussing their relationship, noting "you must not expect me to be respectful to you for I am almost twice your age," and referencing her treatment of him as "one of the family." Alluding to an attraction between Hearn and her sister. With a postscript discussing her ability to "never speak of anything [she] should not," noting "once you said something, and wished it to be in confidence, and I forgot to say that I have no confident."