FLAUBERT Gustave (1821-1880). L.A.S. "Your old uncle Gve Flaubert", [Croisset] Nuit de Lundi [10-11 June 1878], to Caroline COMMANVILLE; 2 pages in-8. Touching letter to his beloved niece. "Yes! my Loulou, I was beginning to think that you were forgetting me a little. Eight days without writing to Vieux! What conduct! but I forgive you, knowing that you are well. Since you like Chinon, why not stay there until the 16th? Enjoy the good times, they are rare. What are you going to do? & what are you going to do? You seem quite uncertain about your travel plans? I imagine you'll first see a bit of the Exposition - & the Salon - of course. But then will you go straight to Plombières, or Royat - or will you come back to poor old Croisset - which is now very beautiful - & where I pity you for not being. The only event of my week was yesterday, here, the Lapierre dinner. Their brat they brought me, did not entertain me at all - but not at all. His excessive activity, overexcited by Julio [the dog] - & quite natural at his age as Prud'homme would say, prevented me from speaking, made my heart beat. - How can parents be so selfish as to inflict such torments on their friends! - but it is agreed that the single people alone, are selfish! - At 9 hours 1/4, I found myself in my solitude with pleasure - that is the truth. My good men [Bouvard and Pécuchet] are doing well. But perhaps it is their fault - I don't sleep enough. Not more than five hours at night, and hardly two during the day. [...] Today, a festival in Dieppedalle, there were many people & boats under my windows. As my feet were very cold just now, I have just made myself a fire". He kisses her... Correspondence (Pléiade), t. V, p. 391 (incomplete).