My dear Mrs Johns, I am very glad there is a prospect of our seeing Miss Keary. Would you or Kate be so kind as to let us know when she comes, and how long she is likely to be with you, and then we may fix a day for meeting or trying to meet. Next week and the week after too we have friends coming to us just so invalidish that I dare ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, The Clever Woman of the Family as far as she goes will be sent you in a day or two from a friend who had had her to read.

The illustrations are decidedly not successful and I should not wish to perpetuate them. They are not half so good as what Miss Keary’s young cousin does.

There is about a fourth more of the story to come.

I have nearly finished the Golden Deeds, but ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I have to thank you for sending me the parcel of German books, which I hope will much add to the correctness of my story. I am not sure however that one has not come for me to which I have no right -Alt-Nordisches Leben Von Dr Karl Weinhold -

Miss Keary told me that you had promised to get for her some Old Northern books, so perhaps it was meant for her. In ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge Will you kindly send back the book by Weinhold. It is for Miss Otté who is going to do a history of North Europe. Miss Keary also has been at work on the same region.

I meant to have dropped you a note tell [sic] you why I sent you Duncans book which I stumbled on in an old book-shop, where after an old habit I was prowling about. I thought this will ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Otterbourn was turned upside down yesterday by a grand wedding, so that I could accomplish nothing but sending off the book without writing.

I am much obliged by your proposal about the Clever Woman, and shall be well satisfied with the terms you propose, - and very glad not to have the stereotyping taken out of the £200. It strikes me that there ought to be another sheet in the first volume; as there ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, Would you please be so kind as to send this note on to Miss Keary, as I do not know her direction. I have been reproaching myself with forgetting to thank you for lending us the Early Egyptian history which we have just finished and hope to return at the first opportunity. It is delightfully written and it is wonderful how she carries us through such an unpromising period by her imaginative ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge I am writing to Mrs Vaughan & will tell her with how much pleasure I consent to her using the story from Golden Deeds. I will remind you when we reprint, that you may give us the additional story.

I don’t think I ever congratulated you on the marvellous good scotch you give us in the Clever Woman. I, a western man, from the Land of Burns, claim a classical purity in my ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I should very much like Miss Keary’s help in the Sunday Library. Mr Ashwell the Principal of the Training College at Durham is the gentleman I should most like to ask for help, but I had rather not ask him till we have the sanction of Dr Vaughan’s name.

I only hope he (Mr A) may have time, but gentlemen are always so busy, and it is but a very select few who can ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I enclose the list of the other copies of the Dove to be sent out besides my own dozen. Our day of departure is still fixed for Monday, but it is very likely to be put off till Friday. I suppose you naturally send copies of my books to the Guardian but it is odd how it has ceased to notice them.

If Miss Keary’s new book is finished at the same time, I ... continue reading

My dear Christabel I hope you did get my letter of thanks to Goosedom after all, though I was so stupid as not to direct it to you at your friend’s, it was a stupid letter in itself, but I was very much hurried at the time, and could not even write to you with it and since that I have been quite laid up, though I am promised that the result is to be getting ... continue reading

My dear Christabel Good luck to you in your new work! I had various things to write to you about Will you send a list of the Goslings to

Miss Margaret Macmillan The Elms Streatham Tooting

I think I told you I have promised to make her a Gosling though she is rather too young. Who is the next to ask questions - will you send her a reminder to send them to me to choose from, and ... continue reading

My dear Christabel Goslings do multiply overmuch, but I cannot refuse to make a two headed one, like Double daisy out of these two damsels of Miss Keary’s about whom I send her letter. Will you send them the Gosling list, and standing orders I am sending them the rules. Who asks questions next – none have come to me to choose from for December- and it is January that is the holiday.

I ... continue reading

My dear Christabel It is a fine story and I like it. I dare say you never read Rosanne, a very old book of the beginning of the century, where there is the same idea, a girl brought up by an infidel father with her mind a blank, and then struggling towards the light, and assimilating every shred. Her first prayer is very beautiful but I think your unprayed prayer is more ... continue reading

My dear Miss Kekewich

I am afraid I do not know of any such governess myself at present. The only one I do know of as free, is too young to be sent to the sea with young girls, and she has not passed the examinations though I hope she will try

I think that you will see in the March Monthly Packet the address of a Miss Kennedy at Cambridge who might be good to ... continue reading

My dear Miss Keary Here I am in the depths of Devonshire which must account for my not having sooner answered your letter. We both got out of sorts and wanted a change so here we are, thinking this beautiful county infinitely more beautiful in spring than in autumn, the red earth and young green contrast so beautifully together.

I think it does seem wise to complete the Scandinavian sketches with Magnus, and the Siamese bits that ... continue reading