When I next asked for the letter which Laura had written to Mrs. Vesey from Blackwater Park, it was given to me without the envelope, which had been thrown into the wastepaper basket, and long since destroyed. In the letter itself no date was mentioned⁠—not even the day of the week. It only contained these lines:⁠— “ Dearest Mrs. Vesey , I am in sad distress and anxiety, and I may come to your house tomorrow night, and ask for a bed. I can’t tell you what is the matter in this letter⁠—I write it in such fear of being found out that I can fix my mind on nothing. Pray be at home to see me. I will give you a thousand kisses, and tell you everything. Your affectionate Laura . ” What help was there in those lines? None.