Wentworth Place, Tuesd. December 22, 1818.

My dear Mrs. Reynolds--When I left you yesterday, 'twas with the conviction that you thought I had received no previous invitation for Christmas day: the truth is I had, and had accepted it under the conviction that I should be in Hampshire at the time: else believe me I should not have done so, but kept in Mind my old friends. I will not speak of the proportion of pleasure I may receive at different Houses--that never enters my head--you may take for a truth that I would have given up even what I did see to be a greater pleasure, for the sake of old acquaintanceship--time is nothing--two years are as long as twenty.

Yours faithfully

JOHN KEATS.