Your loving, J.H.E.

Dec. 3, 1883.

MY DEAREST MARNY,

You are always so forbearing!—­and I have been driven to a degree by work which I had promised, and have just despatched!  Some day it may appeal to “the Queers.”  For it is a collated (and Bowdlerized!) version of the old Peace Egg Mumming Play for Christmas.  I have been often asked about it:  and the other day a Canon Portal wrote to me, and he urged me to try and do it, and it is done!

But it was a much larger matter than I had thought.  The version I have made up is made up from five different versions, and I hope I have got the cream of them.  It will be in the January number, which will be out before Xmas.

I have also been trying to see my way—­I SHOULD so like to go to you—­and if I can’t yet awhile I hope you’ll give me another chance.

This week I certainly cannot—­thank you, dear!  And I don’t see my way in December at all.  I will post-card you in a day or two again.

I am yours always lovingly,
J.H.E.

My garden is great joy to me.  Even you, I think, would allow me a moderate amount of “grubbing” in between brain work.

TO MRS. GOING.

Thursday (December 1883).

MY DEAR MRS. GOING,

You are too profusely good to me.  Have you really given me Quarles?  I have never even seen his School of the Heart, and am charmed with it.  The Hieroglyphics of the life of Man were in the very old copy of Emblems belonging to my Mother which I have known all my life.

Thank you a thousand times.

I write for a seemingly ungracious purpose, but I know you will comprehend my infirmities!  I am not at all well.  I had hoped to be better by the time your young ladies came—­but luck (and I fear a little chill in the garden!) have been against me.  I tried to get Macbeth deferred but it could not be—­and I think my only hope of enduring a long drive, and appearing as Lady Macbeth on Saturday evening with any approach to “undaunted mettle”—­is to shut myself up in absolute silence and rest for several hours before we start.  This, alas! means that it would be better for your young ladies (what is left of them, after brain fag and fish dinners!) to return to you by an earlier train, as I could be “no account” to them on Saturday afternoon.

* * * * *

I’ll take care of the poor students though I am not at my best!  Their fish is ordered.  We will spend a soothing evening on sofas and easy chairs—­and go early to bed!  They shall have breakfast in bed if they like.  This does not sound amusing but I think it will be wholesome for their relics!

Again thanking you for the dear little book—­which comes in so nicely for Advent!