MS Westcountry Studies Library, Exeter/ Yonge 1864/ 71
My dear Miss Smith
I so seldom see the paper that I did not know that this greatest sorrow that can befall one’s unmarried life had come upon you.2 It takes me back at once to ten years ago when I was tasting the same cup, and strangely enough there was the same connection between the sorrow and my first real success. How you must feel the change & the sorrow for others as well as yourself. I am glad there is not in your case the shock of an immediate break of home, but that you have time to detach yourself gradually. As to the grief itself, I think it is one that lives more than any other I have known and yet is more precious. And those testimonies from poor neighbours do so live with one like treasures through the rest of ones life.
The Anastasias must I am sure be a success from the tone of all the notices I have seen of them, and Miss Taylor is very much pleased with them, you know she is a great admirer of yours (except the Websters) but she has not guessed you here. She likes the 3d volume specially. I am just going to enjoy it
With many thanks
yours sincerely
C M Yonge