thanked dear Mrs. Nassau Senior for her letter? and told her of the pleasure it gave and brought me? .… I take the opportunity of writing when B. is out. I like to be ready to chat and walk with her when she is here.…
Florence.
To Emily.
I joined the Cherubini Choral Society here; we are singing some lovely things of Bach's and one of Mozart's. I believe we are to give our first concert on the 18th.… The anemones are quite wonderful. I gathered on Sunday every imaginable shade of purple, from blue to crimson; such a bunch they made, so soft and deep in their gradations.
I hardly dare, even now, to write of home. I think of it as little as I can; the abiding sense of it in all its preciousness, and the heart-hunger for it never leaves me for a moment, but I try to pretend to myself that the things here are very engrossing and sufficient; and in a way they are. I have put aside the question of possible wants of one and another which I might satisfy, sure that I shall some day have a richer store of help to pour out for them, if I am (as I now believe I am) gathering strength. Every word mentioning the dear English people is precious. I glance down the letters for proper names very eagerly; you are all too good about writing, but there are necessarily so many you never mention … and oh so many of the tenants and playground children … and I always want more and more about the people you mention. Do you not mean to send me Ruskin's letters to you? I should like to see them. I fancied perhaps you did not send them, because you thought they would make me gloomy; if
