[Footnote 20:  Poetical Works, ii. 3.]

[Footnote 21:  Ib. i. 277.]

To H.S.  Boyd [London:] October 14, Friday [1836].

My dear Friend,—­Be as little angry with me as you can.  I have not been very well for a day or two, and shall enjoy a visit to you on Monday so much more than I shall be able to do to-day, that I will ask you to forgive my not going to you this week, and to receive me kindly on that day instead—­provided, you know, it is not wet.

The [Greek:  Achaiides] approach the [Greek:  Achaioi][22] more tremblingly than usual, with the ‘New Monthly Magazine’ in their hands.  Now pray don’t annoy yourself by reading a single word which you would rather not read except for the sake of being kind to me.  And my prophecy is, that even by annoying yourself and making a strenuous effort, the whole force of friendship would not carry you down the first page.  Georgie says you want to know the verdict of the ‘Athenaeum.’  That paper unfortunately has been lent out of the house; but my memory enables me to send you the words very correctly, I think.  After some observations on other periodicals, the writer goes on to say:  ’The “New Monthly Magazine” has not one heavy article.  It is rich in poetry, including some fine sonnets by the Corn Law Rhymer, and a fine although too dreamy ballad, “The Poet’s Vow.”  We are almost tempted to pause and criticise the work of a writer of so much inspiration and promise as the author of this poem, and exhort him once again, to greater clearness of expression and less quaintness in the choice of his phraseology; but this is not the time or place for digression.’

You see my critic has condemned me with a very gracious countenance.  Do put on yours,

And believe me, affectionately yours,
E.B.  BARRETT.

I forgot to say that you surprised and pleased me at the same time by your praise of my ’Sea-mew.’[23] Love to Annie.  We were glad to hear that she did not continue unwell, and that you are well again, too.  I hope you have had no return of the rheumatic pain.

[Footnote 22:  Miss Barrett’s Greek is habitually written without accents or breathings.]

[Footnote 23:  Poetical Works, ii. 278.]

To H.S.  Boyd [74 Gloucester Place:] Saturday, [October 1836].

My dear Friend,—­I am much disappointed in finding myself at the end of this week without having once seen you—­particularly when your two notes are waiting all this time to be answered.  Do believe that they were not, either of them, addressed to an ungrateful person, and that the only reason of their being received silently was my hope of answering them more agreeably to both of us—­by talking instead of writing.

Yes; you have read my mystery.[24]

You paid a tithe to your human nature in reading only nine-tenths of it, and the rest was a pure gift to your friendship for me, and is taken and will be remembered as such.  But you have a cruel heart for a parody, and this one tried my sensibility so much that I cried—­with laughing.  I confess to you notwithstanding, it was very fair, and dealt its blow with a shining pointed weapon.