My dear friend,
With this I send a long criticism on Miss Blyth – shall return her
M.S.
manuscript
– Mr.
Chermsides & How to read to
No.
number
23 today. – The latter is quite useless. I think – don’t like it at
all. – Mr. C’s I like
much better than you do – if only he were not so long-winded – & so given to
make people talk melodramatic & poetical in critical scenes – which they
don’t – it would be very beautiful. – I like the making up of classes – &
making lords & ladies like other people: – also the characters are
interesting & the idea good. – the “situations” too – especially after
Lady S. discovers about
that poor boy’s love & the two mothers talk it over. – Ned’s love is very natural
fresh & beautiful. – When Mr.
C. has to do with boys & men he does them capital – but his
women are not women exactly – airy ideals – not flesh
& blood. – Nevertheless something about his writing attracts me greatly – I
like the man so in it – I wish he would condense &
take time – he might do so much good with his thorough manliness &
pluckiness – & uprightness & purity of mind. – I wonder what sort of
woman is Mrs
Chermsides. –
The new story I have not dived in yet – but will soon. – but I wanted to clear of
three. –
Thanks about Fields –
in addition should be deducted from my £50
something for C.
Dobell’s designs: it is but fair. How much do you think? – And
will you pay it to him when you pay yourself out of the £50 – it will come better than thro’ me. Will you take care that
his name is put in full – “Designed by Clarence Dobell” – to
each engraving. – I send today’s with correction (as per maternal hint) the last
pages of copy – “Our Year: A Child’s Book in Verse" & title-page new –
to Mr. Clay. – I feel so
vexed about S. Low – as
it was by my suggestion that Mr. Marston went to him : I did not think of Fields. – would it be possible to make Harpers pay more, by a
representation from the publishers that it was not fair to give so little? – I
wish you would think about it. – Mr. Marston is a very
bad one to speak up for himself or drive a bargain. –
Thanks to your sister for her kind note – but it would be quite
impossible for me to leave him again till I go for good – & then every week
is planned – I hope also to see you all at Ayr – so shall mind it less –
though it would have been nice to creep in to the Trinity St. fireside – I
have not been myself of late – the east winds settled on my cheek – & I have
relaxed sore throat as well: – but I go about as normal – & now it is such
wild weather I shall soon be right. – Your folk might come any day now – it is
so warm. – We shall have summer all in a jump – I long to have the boys enjoying
themselves here. –
Ever yours sincerely
DMM