CHAPTER XI.
1842 _Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._ SUDBURY HALL, _4th January 1842._ MY DEAR NIECE,--Most grateful for your very amiable kind letter full of good wishes for me, I hasten to answer it and to assure you that I deeply feel all your affectionate kindness to me in wishing my life to be prolonged.

From ill-health I have become such a useless member of your family, that I must wonder you have not long been tired of me.

I wish I was more able to be of any use to you which you might like to make of me.

My services would be most faithful, I can assure you.
Should my life be spared, there may perhaps yet be a time when I can prove to you, that what I say is not merely a _facon de parler_, but my sincere wish.
Your domestic happiness, dearest Victoria, gives me great satisfaction whenever I think of it, and that is very often.

God continue it so, uninterrupted, is my daily prayer.
Your approbation of my little offering to my dear godchild gives me much pleasure.