MS British Library Add MSS 54920: 174-175

Dear Mr Macmillan,
The Chaplet of Pearls is done, and I shall send it by train tomorrow, being glad to get it out of the house, as it entices me into touching it up when I ought to be doing other things. I am afraid you will think that though it is not a story without an end, yet the end is very far away – but it would not be shorter, and judging by the number of chapters I do not think it is as long as Redclyffe. I do not think it would shorten without taking away the sense of time and proportion – which is wanted in a finished tale, though not so much in a magazine. I have had editorship enough to know what an unfinished story is. I made a resolution at first about accepting any tale without its end, and never broke it without being sorry for it – even with people I could trust.

I saw Miss Wilbraham on Saturday and I think she seems likely to be able to write for the Sunday Library – but her mother is such an invalid that she is always rather uncertain.

I must write about the Penny Readings when I have thought more about them.

I must put a note to the Chaplet begging people not to think it a controversial tale – is it any use to do this to the 1st chapter in the Magazine, or had it better wait to be a preface to the whole?

Yours sincerely
C M Yonge