esteem and friendship

the person i want to talk to is not currently available. so i am talking to him through what i am reading - "above all what the french call moralistes - writers who delve into human character and behavior" (from the intro to my copy of the letters of madame de sevigne). it's a conversation we've always had - and right now i'll talk to him in any guise i can find him - madame de sevigne reminds me, all the way from 1664. from one of her letters:

"futhermore, if you persist in pitying me for the trouble I am taking to write to you, and in begging me not to go on, I shall think that you are the one who is bored with reading my letters and tired of answering them, but then I shall promise again to shorten my letters if i can; and i release you from the bother of replying, although i enjoy your letters very much indeed. after these declarations i don't think that you can stop the flow of my gazettes. the thought that i give you a little pleasure gives me a great deal. there are so few opportunities of expressing one's esteem and friendship that we must not miss them when they present themselves."