MS British Library Add MSS 54921: 218
Dear Mr Macmillan
I have a story within three or four short chapters of completion, which I should like to mention in case it should come within the scope of any autumn arrangements.
I think the title might be ‘A Release’.1 It is founded on a story that Guizot once told me that Mongolfier, the aëronaut gained the affections of a noble young lady, whose parents forced her to become a nun. She appealed to the Pope who absolved her, and they were married.
I asked Madame de Witt if I might use the story, and she said yes, but not the name as there are Mongolfiers still living.2
It is about half as long as the Long Vacation too long for the present arrangements of the Monthly Packet, for which I began it. Had it better be published by you as it is, or go into any periodical first.
One title might be ‘Caroline’s French Kindred’ Caroline is English, but the moving spirit. When published in a volume it would begin with the Christmas number story ‘Caroline’s Defiance in which she first appeared – Christmas 1893.
Yours truly
C M Yonge