My dear Christabel

Thank you for your proverbs, which are very curious. There are some odd Eastern ones in todays Saturday, one of which takes my fancy, though not for a Christmas number ‘If a Jackal howls shall my old buffalo die’. I am afraid people would not understand it. I mean to have

Crow not, Croak not

as the next year’s proverb. I think most peoples’ stories are variations of a certain ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

Here are two themes for you quite true to start upon. Alice Moberly once found a diamond ring left behind on a wash hand stand in Switzerland. Invent the previous and subsequent history of that ring.

Also – At Dorchester Church in Oxfordshire there is the tomb of a Crusader, not lying peaceably on his back, but writhing round his spear. Something might be written to account for this – ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

The elder sister may be a good modification and pray do you – or FMP invent a love story to work in.

No Robber appears so do pray write him, also Geo III and the beggar. I have done a White Ship. There ought I fancy to be about 30, and I have 28 in my eye or written out ie if I take two Whittingtons.

What do you think of the baby Pretender ... continue reading

Dear Mr Craik

I think the printing may be begun at once of Stray Pearls, and the proofs had better come to me as inconsistencies arise when tales run on long. And besides I always find that the printers make their worst blunders when their copy is in print. I suppose they set on their worst hands. Clay is sure to have the copy. It may very well come out in April - it will only ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

I suppose you are beginning daily life again. When in some ways it is so hard When it feels as if there were so few in the house, and yet when people talk it gets into a whirl and one does not care about it, and oh! the letters that seem as if they would never get themselves written. I suppose you stay where you are and in that way are much ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

Things change a good deal.- Before John went to America, he altered his will so as to make her tolerably dependent on Bernard, hoping thus to put a stop to it all and thinking it would keep the man on his good behaviour. Since that he offered £300 for her life if before June, Mr Adams found employment so as to secure a reasonable even if small income, £400 if she ... continue reading

Dear Sir

I think it would be well to send me a set of sheets of What to Read, that I might add to them or cancel them on occasion. I know there are some good books of this winter not added, and Goldhanger Woods, and I have not seen a sheet since before Christmas. I am afraid the books may be forgotten and omitted if I do not set them down soon

Yours &c C M Yonge