between us, so sure shall I end proving that ...  Anne Radcliffe avert it!... that you are just my sister:  not that I am much frightened, but there are such surprises in novels!—­Blame the next,—­yes, now this is to be real blame!—­And I meant to call your attention to it before.  Why, why, do you blot out, in that unutterably provoking manner, whole lines, not to say words, in your letters—­(and in the criticism on the ’Duchess’)—­if it is a fact that you have a second thought, does it cease to be as genuine a fact, that first thought you please to efface?  Why give a thing and take a thing?  Is there no significance in putting on record that your first impression was to a certain effect and your next to a certain other, perhaps completely opposite one?  If any proceeding of yours could go near to deserve that harsh word ‘impertinent’ which you have twice, in speech and writing, been pleased to apply to your observations on me; certainly this does go as near as can be—­as there is but one step to take from Southampton pier to New York quay, for travellers Westward.  Now will you lay this to heart and perpend—­lest in my righteous indignation I [some words effaced here]!  For my own health—­it improves, thank you!  And I shall go abroad all in good time, never fear.  For my ‘Bells,’ Mr. Chorley tells me there is no use in the world of printing them before November at earliest—­and by that time I shall get done with these Romances and certainly one Tragedy (that could go to press next week)—­in proof of which I will bring you, if you let me, a few more hundreds of lines next Wednesday.  But, ‘my poet,’ if I would, as is true, sacrifice all my works to do your fingers, even, good—­what would I not offer up to prevent you staying ... perhaps to correct my very verses ... perhaps read and answer my very letters ... staying the production of more ‘Berthas’ and ‘Caterinas’ and ‘Geraldines,’ more great and beautiful poems of which I shall be—­how proud!  Do not be punctual in paying tithes of thyme, mint, anise and cummin, and leaving unpaid the real weighty dues of the Law; nor affect a scrupulous acknowledgment of ‘what you owe me’ in petty manners, while you leave me to settle such a charge, as accessory to the hiding the Talent, as best I can!  I have thought of this again and again, and would have spoken of it to you, had I ever felt myself fit to speak of any subject nearer home and me and you than Rome and Cardinal Acton.  For, observe, you have not done ... yes, the ‘Prometheus,’ no doubt ... but with that exception have you written much lately, as much as last year when ’you wrote all your best things’ you said, I think?  Yet you are better now than then.  Dearest friend, I intend to write more, and very likely be praised more, now I care less than ever for it, but still more do I look to have you ever before me, in your place, and with more poetry and more praise still, and my own heartfelt praise ever on the top, like a flower on the water.  I have said nothing of yesterday’s storm ... thunder ... may you not have been out in it!  The evening draws in, and I will walk out.  May God bless you, and let you hold me by the hand till the end—­Yes, dearest friend!