My dear Miss Jacob, I think the dream exceedingly beautiful, it went quite to my heart, and the vision of the mother saving the children was the pleasanter to meet with because I remember once talking it over with the dear Warden Barter, though whether I first heard it from him I cannot remember, at any rate it brought me his face and voice.

The only thing that I should have a shadow of doubt about is ... continue reading

My dear Miss Jacob, First to answer the question I forgot in my last note. That Sphinx is a faithless monster, he (or she) never came to us this month, nor have I heard of one any where. There is a very good new set of acrostics by A. A. G. published by Lothian.

You are very good to take so kindly all my criticisms of the Gates of Paradise. I feel it rather like the atmosphere ... continue reading

My dear Miss Jacob, I have the Récit d’une Soeur, and if you like to read it, I could leave it, either at your house in the Close, at Jacob & Johnsons or any other convenient house of call at Winchester. It is a beautiful book - the family are so good and charming, though not equal in intellect or poetry to the Guérins. The great matter in reading it is not to judge it ... continue reading

My dear Edith, I enclose the sum due to you for the Gates of Paradise. You cannot think how much they are liked, and by people whose opinion I care very much about. I have only had one objection and that from a lady whom I do not consider the judge she thinks herself. Do you not think you could manage some day to come and stay with us, we should get so much better acquainted ... continue reading

My dear Miss Poole, I shall be delighted to put in the history of poor Rosa’s dream, only I must let a few numbers go by first, or I shall by [sic] inundated with dreams. The gates of Paradise have set one lady dreaming already, and the Dreams of the Dead another, and I think I must let those wait a few months or we shall fall into a universal visionary mood—but I do like the ... continue reading

My dear Edith, The Gates of Paradise came this morning and a very pretty little book they make. I don’t think one would guess the drawing had been finished in bed! I wish I could come and see you, and thank you for them but Mamma has to take a drive every day and is not fit to get out of the carriage so that I can only take her within moderate distances, and we see ... continue reading

My dear Edith I am so glad to have heard from you though I wish I could hear that Malvern was invigorating you, to say nothing of Dr Gully. Miss Dyson is the niece of my friend; I have only once seen her. She, ie Miss Dyson of Malvern is the daughter [of] old Mr Frank Dyson of Tidworth whose name I think you must know and do not take it as a bad omen, has ... continue reading