Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, 8 January 1860

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            <title> Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock Craik</persName>
               to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Benjamin Mulock</persName>, <date
                  when="1860-01-08">January 8 1860</date>
            </title>
            <author ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock Craik</author>
            <editor ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BourrierKaren">Karen Bourrier</editor>
            <sponsor>
               <orgName>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</orgName>
            </sponsor>
            <sponsor>University of Calgary</sponsor>
            <principal>Karen Bourrier</principal>
            <respStmt>
               <resp>Transcription <date when="2020-08">August 2020</date> by</resp>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">Kiana Wong</persName>
            </respStmt>
            <respStmt>
               <resp>Proofing of transcription <date when="2020-09">September 2020</date> by </resp>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JarmulaSonia">Sonia Jarmula</persName>
            </respStmt>
            <respStmt>
               <resp>TEI encoding <date when="2020-08">August 2020</date> by</resp>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">Kiana Wong</persName>
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            <respStmt>
               <resp>Proofing of TEI encoding <date when="2020-09">September 2020</date> by</resp>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JarmulaSonia">Sonia Jarmula</persName>
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            <edition> First digital edition in TEI, date: <date when="2020-08">August 2020.</date>
               P5. </edition>
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         <publicationStmt>
            <authority>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</authority>
            <pubPlace>Calgary, Alberta, Canada</pubPlace>
            <date>2020</date>
            <availability>
               <p>Reproduced by courtesy of the <placeName>University of California at Los Angeles
                  </placeName>.</p>
               <licence>Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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            <title>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</title>
         </seriesStmt>
         <sourceDesc>
            <msDesc>
               <msIdentifier>
                  <institution>University of California at Los Angeles</institution>
                  <repository>Charles E. Young Research Library</repository>
                  <collection>Mulock Family Papers</collection>
                  <idno>846</idno>
               </msIdentifier>
               <head> Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock
                     Craik</persName> to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Benjamin
                     Mulock</persName>, <date when="1860-01-08">January 8 1860</date>
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               <additional>
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                     <note>Box 1, Folder 8</note>
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         <editorialDecl>
            <p> Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as
               accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript.
               Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions
               and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a
               line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we
               have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to
               facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded. </p>
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         <div type="letter">
            <opener>
               <dateline>
                  <placeName/>
                  <date when="1860">[1860]</date>
                  <date>Sunday – 8<hi rend="superscript">th</hi>
                     <choice>
                        <abbr>Jan.</abbr>
                        <expan>January</expan>
                     </choice></date>
               </dateline>
               <salute/>
            </opener>
            <p>It seems rather amusing to begin another letter seeing I only posted my last
               yesterday! – but I don’t like to break the rule of writing to you every Sunday
               morning. It’s hardly possible to make you understand how badly I want you on Sundays
               – &amp; many others time – &amp; how nothing but the conviction that you never would
               be happy with me &amp; never were – &amp; you perhaps are happy knocking about alone,
               reconciles me to things as they are. – The <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Ziepel"
                  >Ziepels</orgName> had the benefit of your news &amp; <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>photographs</expan>
               </choice> that night – with which they were greatly delighted – &amp; considerably
               amused at your idea of your letters being “not interesting.” – he was much impressed
               with the awful heat you must live in – indeed I, non-meteorological, hadn’t noticed
               how <hi rend="underline">very</hi> hot it must be – almost as bad as a permanent
                  <unclear>Begert</unclear> S<hi rend="superscript">t</hi>. – I doubt if you will
               ever stand it – if so you must come home &amp; try Photography elsewhere. I see one
               Photographer firm has likely sent a man out <del rend="strikethrough">of</del> to
                  <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Japan">Japan</placeName> – so doubtless you
               would have little difficulty on getting out somewhere else. – I don’t mind yours!
               being dull – without society – &amp; hard-worked – everybody in every portion <hi
                  rend="underline">must</hi> have something to bear: – but I mind very much any risk
               of health. You <hi rend="underline">must not do it</hi>. Don’t go on the water – it’s
               by the sea they get yellow fever. – Your not having boils reflects that they have
               disappeared &amp; you being 2 lb fatter is a good thing. – I hope you will always
               state clearly how you are in health: – but I can’t help feeling very anxious. –
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Laura</persName> - <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsHerford">Mrs Herford</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName> will be the Sunday
               collection today I think. – I wish I knew where to send for your parcel – for it has
               never come. probably <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLewis">Mrs Lewis</persName>
               is busy waiting for her mail. – Well I’ll not waste paper any more – having of course
               no news. – Sunday morning <choice>
                  <abbr>Jan</abbr>
                  <expan>January</expan>
               </choice>15. – after a rather full &amp; busy week. – I have been
                  <unclear>ilrc</unclear> at work over an Essay that you will find in the <choice>
                  <abbr>Feb.</abbr>
                  <expan>February</expan>
               </choice>
               <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillansMagazine">Macmillan</title>. so need say
               no more about it. – Tuesday. I alas at tea at the <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ClockHouse">Clock House</placeName> to meet <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Laura</persName>’s brother <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordWilliam">William</persName> – schoolmaster from
                  <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Lancaster">Lancaster</placeName> – rather a
               nice individual. – there I heard that poor <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsZiepel">Mrs Ziepel</persName> that morning had got news
               that her mother had been dead a week: the poor old lady died alone - all her children
               away. – &amp; nobody let the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Ziepel"
                  >Ziepels</orgName> know till all was over – not even that she was ill. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsZiepel">Mrs Ziepel</persName>’s grief was some- </p>
            <p>thing dreadful. – Wednesday I went with <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#GothicCottage">Gothic Cottage</placeName> to a party at
               the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#EnglishwomensJournal">Englishwomen’s
                  Journal</orgName> – &amp; catch me going to another party anywhere! though it was
               over at 10 P.M. Such a <rs type="event" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackHoleofCalcutta"
                  >black hole of Calcutta</rs> I never knew. About 500 people crammed in two rooms.
               – a few “strong-minded” – with waistcoats, cravats &amp; short hair – but the general
               lot one’s usual acquaintance. They invited 450. <persName cert="low"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Carry"><unclear>Carry</unclear></persName> having 450
               “friends.” – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> &amp;
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Laura Herford</persName> seemed
               greatly amused – but for my part I couldn’t stand it &amp; was thankful to get home.
               – On Thursday I had <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatenAmy">Amy Paten</persName>
               spending the day at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood"
               >Wildwood</placeName>. She is visiting the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Ferguses"
                  >Ferguses</orgName> here – &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Joe"
                  >Joe</persName> charged her to find me out – It is curious how people come back to
               one, full of love &amp; kindness – if one only has patience to wait. – Few things
               have been more pleasant to me than <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatenAmy"
                  >Amy</persName> coming to me again – &amp; pouring out all her troubles for these
               10 years. – Her father married again – turned men all adrift &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Joe">Joe</persName> took them in. – &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatenAmy">Amy</persName> &amp; <persName cert="medium"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SevernWalter">Walter</persName> have lived with him ever
               since. Also his brother-in-law <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrRosburgh">Mr
                  Rosburgh</persName> failed – &amp; his has kept them too. – So good &amp; true as
               he has turned out – such a faithful brother, such a loving husband &amp; father – it
               does one’s heart good to think of it. – They want me to come &amp; spend part of the
               summer with them at some quiet seaside place – &amp; help in spoiling the baby: –
               which probably I should – a trifle! – but I doubt if I shall go. There is another
               baby coming in June – I suppose you can hardly understand the sort of feeling I have
               towards <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Joe">Joe</persName>’s children. – Friday I
               did an awful exploit – went with the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Mudie"
                  >Mudie’s</orgName> to hear <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Samson"
                  >Samson</title> It would have been nice – if I could have got you out of my head –
               which I couldn’t: – it seemed so hard you could not enjoy it. – <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Samson">Sun’s Reeves Total eclipse</title> was
               exquisite – so was <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Samson">"Round about the Starry
                  thone"</title> - &amp; <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Samson">"Fixed."</title>
               – though my enjoyment of the latter was rather stopped by <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MudieCharles">Mr Mudie</persName> whispering “Look at the
                  <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#QueenVictoria">Queen</rs>.” – who was
               such extraordinary individual, walking with a fierce resolution, &amp; throwing him
               back in the intervals of the “thunder's roar." – as if he felt the whole weight of
               the chorus risked on the <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#QueenVictoria"
                  >Queen</rs> – that I went into fits of laughing – inwardly. – </p>
            <p>The last chorus was very fine. – also <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Samson">“Let
                  the Bright Seraphim”</title> with Harpes obligate trumpet – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MudieCharles">Mudie’s</persName> keen enjoyment – honest
               little man – was quite pleasant. They have gone regularly to <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ExeterHall">Exeter Hall</placeName> for about 30 years. He
               has 20 tickets for every concert – which he distributes among friends – &amp; clerks
               – had 5 clerks there that night. – He said to me pointing to a bearded gentlemanly
               young man who sat near with his wife &amp; sister – “Did you ever <add place="above"
                  >see</add>
               <hi rend="underline">him</hi> before? – He was my errand-boy in King S<hi
                  rend="superscript">t</hi>. – Honest <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MudieCharles">Mudie</persName> – ah <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben</persName> you wronged him when you scouted
               his attentions because he was a “fine” friend. – He does a world of good with both
               his money &amp; his influence – &amp; they are as simple and kindly a family as can
               be. I slept there – &amp; went after breakfast to spend the day with <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatenAmy">Amy Paten</persName> at <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Brompton">Brompton</placeName> – coming home in time for
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> who was here to
               tea – also <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName>
               &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonNelly">Nelly</persName>. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName> brought me <choice>
                  <abbr>Vol</abbr>
                  <expan>Volume</expan>
               </choice> 1 of his novel complete – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna"
                  >Minna</persName> stopped till 10.P.M. – When <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">May</persName> took her safe home. I think I
               enjoy <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName>’s company more
               than ever – she is so very much softened down, &amp; less irritable – &amp; so
               extremely good &amp; kind to me individually. She hardly ever gives me a sharp word.
               – She wants badly to go to the next <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ExeterHall"
                  >Exeter Hall</placeName> – &amp; as <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MudieCharles">Mr Mudie</persName> had asked after her
               particularly as “that pleasant young lady” when he had taken house for the <orgName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Marston">Marstons</orgName> – We agreed that I should go
               the length of asking him for two out of the 20 tickets &amp; we would do the <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Lobgesang">Lobgesang</title> &amp; <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Dettingen">Dettingen</title> – somehow: together. – I
               feel somehow that it’s sore to tell you these things – considering your dull
               evenings: but it’s only temporary – be patient &amp; work away - &amp; you may yet be
               a prosperous man at home – with possibility of concerts &amp; everything else. –
               Everybody must have their uphill season before they can get to the top of the tree –
               though yours has lasted a long, long time: – but I don’t think it will last for ever.
               – I had a letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ReadeElizabeth">Cousin
                  Lizzie</persName> lately where she says that a girl she knows, met another girl at
                  <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Limerick">Limerick</placeName>
            </p>
            <p><placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Ireland">Ireland</placeName> – whose brother out
               in <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bahia">Bahia</placeName> – wrote home that they
               had had “a very pleasant addition to their party – a <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Mr Ben Mulock</persName> – an exceedingly
               agreeable young man!” – Who on earth is this brother – name I don’t know. – But you
               see the world is so small – do what you will you can’t escape from “friends”. – It is
               such a pouring wet Sunday that I can’t get to Church – so shall probably go in for a
               chat with <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> till
               dinner-time – &amp; then go &amp; see poor <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsZiepel">Mrs Ziepel</persName> &amp;
                  <unclear>petition</unclear> them to tea if they will come. – You see I manage to
               make <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName> if not a
               Reformatory – a “haven” as <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsHerford">Mrs
                  Herford</persName> calls it – By the by, last Sunday’s collection was full –
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsHerford">Mrs Herford</persName>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Laura</persName> – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith">Harvey Smith</persName>. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith">Harvey</persName> shook hands &amp; behaved
               quite friendly – Poor <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith">Harvey</persName>
               – he’s a nice nice fellow. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Carry"
                  >Carry</persName> is to be married next month – &amp; <unclear>then</unclear>
               <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HattonGarden">Hatton-garden</placeName> breaks up
               &amp; they think of living at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Sydenham"
                  >Sydenham</placeName>. – There was a tremendous hard “talk” all evening – a sort
               of recapitulation of the late “squabble” – the subject "truth" has been squabbled
               over on intervals ever since – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith"
                  >Harvey</persName> said energetically when he left that “he had spent a <hi
                  rend="underline">glorious</hi> evening!” – I feel a priggish pleasure in these
               Sunday Collections, which make a nice evening for so many “strays”. – also in the
               thought that old maid as I am – &amp; solitary as <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName> is – it isn’t a dreary
               house &amp; every body seems glad to come to it. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatenAmy">Amy</persName> thought it such a pretty &amp;
               pleasant house – She wants to go to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Rome"
                  >Rome</placeName> &amp; study modelling - that she may make herself independent –
               but <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Joe">Joe</persName> is fierce &amp; won’t hear
               of it – She asked me which I thought was right &amp; I said <hi rend="underline"
                  >she</hi> was. – for <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Joe">Joe</persName> may
               have a dozen children yet. &amp; she would be much better and happier carving her own
               living. – &amp; she’s so clever that she could do it easily. – She wants me to go
               with her to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Rome">Rome</placeName> next September
               &amp; writer there!! – but more than ever I decline the idea of going abroad. – Well
               goodbye <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs> -
               this has been a long Sunday letter. – I wonder if you ever think of me on <hi
                  rend="underline">your</hi> Sundays – or what you do all the day besides reading. – </p>
            <p>Sunday - <choice>
                  <abbr>Jan</abbr>
                  <expan>January</expan>
               </choice> 22. – After the wettest &amp; wretchedest &amp; soggiest of of weeks that
               would almost have reconciled you to being <hi rend="underline">hot</hi>. – Monday I
               went to my little Prigs – &amp; had tea at the <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ClockHouse">Clock House</placeName>
               <unclear>after</unclear> a day’s work. – Tuesday <orgName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Ziepel">the Ziepels</orgName> came to stop here two days
               in hope of making <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsZiepel">her</rs> a
               little better after the great shock she had had: – Wednesday <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Frances</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie Miers</persName> were here also. – &amp;
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie</persName> &amp; I went to the
               squabble at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ValeLodge">Vale Lodge</placeName>. –
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellGeorge">Mr Lovell</persName> wrote the
               essay - as I was too busy to take my turn. It was on Good-natures – not particularly
               good. – &amp; only 14 squabblers – it being a fog that you might have cut with a
               knife. – Rather lively games afterwards – &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrTomlinson">Mr Tomlinson</persName> came out as usual
               nice. – He took <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> &amp;
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> next night to the
               <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#KingsCollege">Kings College</placeName> soirée.
               2000 people - at which they were greatly amused. – I went back with <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie</persName> to Temple Lodge - where I
               stayed mildly in pouring rain till Saturday morning. When I went to see <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatenAmy">Amy Paten</persName> at <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Kensington">Kensington</placeName> - we spent the evening
               together &amp; she made a very good sketch of me to take home with her. – I got home
               to tea &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMaria">Mrs Lovell</persName>
               paid me a long call. – By the bye - lately that Excellent woman for the first time
               opened upon me in the subject of you – speaking of you in a very affectionate &amp;
               laudatory manner – saying both she &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellGeorge">Mr Lovell</persName> had the highest opinion
               of you – &amp; no possible objection to your marrying <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName>
               <hi rend="underline">except</hi> your religion <add place="above">or
                  non-religion</add> – which would always make it quite impossible. – I said you
               held doctrines very much more like theirs than mine were – but that as <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> apparently did not love you
               it was idle to discuss the subject &amp; so I dropped it &amp; spoke of something
               else. – <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMaria">She</rs> &amp; I were
               alone &amp; the conversation didn’t last 3 minutes. – She then went on to explain her
               griefs – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName>’s excessive
               reserve - &amp;c - also <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
                  >Marian</persName>’s unitarian friends: – &amp; mine. – the old thing, on which
               she gets perfectly rabid, poor woman. Certainly the ancient <orgName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Lovell">Lovells</orgName> are crochetty to the last degree
               – but one can always manage them by the grand secret of all things – “letting things
               alone”. – &amp; I’ll bear anything for <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna"
                  >Min</persName> – who has so very little happiness in her life. – &amp; bears the
               want of it so bravely. – Today <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence"
                  >Clarence</persName> comes to dinner – and to discuss an offer of <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Mr Macmillan</persName>’s for his
               making designs. – And tomorrow I go down to <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cambridge">Cambridge</placeName> for a week on business.
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Mr Macmillan</persName> has
               offered me to be their reader. – at a fixed salary. – &amp; I shall be glad – for I
                  <hi rend="underline">can’t</hi> write. – the small articles in <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillansMagazine">Mac’s</title>
               <choice>
                  <abbr>mag.</abbr>
                  <expan>magazine</expan>
               </choice> have </p>
            <p>cost me days of headache. – Yet I find to do nothing at all in regular daily work
               would be equally impossible: idleness worries me as much as work. – So the <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillansMagazine">Macmillan</title> offer comes in
               admirably – it will only be doing for pay what I do continually in amateur fashion
               for nothing. – it will give me much influence – &amp; be a settled increasing thing.
               I like the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanFamily">Macmillans</orgName>
               very much – they agree in almost all <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC"
                  >Sister</rs>’s “crotchets”. – <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">he</rs> conducts business on a
               principle so liberal &amp; chivalric it’s quite wonderful – &amp; just like “<rs
                  type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnHalifax">John”</rs> – on “Christian
               principles” – And strange to say – <hi rend="underline">you</hi> might say – it
               answers - his business grows yearly: will be very great by &amp; by. – And I should
               like to work with him. – In all I have seen of him – &amp; I have seen a deal since
               you left, having done much <add place="above">general</add> business with him for
               other people, as well as being concerned in the affairs of the <rs type="title"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillansMagazine"><choice>
                     <abbr>Mag</abbr>
                     <expan>magazine</expan>
                  </choice></rs>: – I have learned greatly to respect <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Mr Macmillan</persName>. – as indeed
               everybody connected with him does – both in a business &amp; private capacity – But
               no more - I will tell you next Sunday how we have settled it. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName>’s <choice>
                  <abbr>Vol</abbr>
                  <expan>Volume</expan>
               </choice> 1 - <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> likes as
               much as I do. - it is <choice>
                  <sic>acally</sic>
                  <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">actually</reg>
               </choice> very good - &amp; I’m sure <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Macmillan</persName> will have it. - I
               sent him last week some writings of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonBob">Bob
                  Paton</persName>'s - which he was so delighted with that he made him an offer to
               write a sea-story - which news I sent off to the <rs type="place"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PmalderCottage">Cottage</rs> - &amp; they were so glad –
               For poor <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonBob">Bob</persName> has come home
               quite broken in health &amp; fortunes &amp; wholly dependent on <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonAllanPark">Allan</persName> – with no chance of going
               to sea again. – And how <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonAllanPark"
                  >Allan</persName> is ever to marry I don’t see! – I don’t care what you say about
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonAllanPark">Allan</persName>’s being a
               “perfect fool” – you did once – in the matter of marrying – he is the most generous
               self-denying “fool” that ever was – And the quiet way he takes <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonBob">Bob</persName>’s getting all his praise as an
               author, while <hi rend="underline">he</hi> got little or none – is something
               perfectly beautiful. – I declare his letter back, with the account of how happy the
               news made them – &amp; how <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonMaggie"
                  >Maggie</persName> “became a Niagara” as usual – made me nearly do the like. –
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Macmillan</persName> has
               also taken a child’s book of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#CraikGeorgiana"
                  >Georgie Craik</persName>’s – &amp; she wrote me so delighted. – So I’ve had a
               deal of pleasure this week in the “priggish” way in which I do take pleasure –
               looking at it through other folk’s eyes. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MayallJoe">Joe Mayall</persName> called when I was out
               &amp; took some music he had lent you &amp; brought back some I had lent him – I was
               sorry to miss him – but shall write when I come back from <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cambridge">Cambridge</placeName>. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DowieAnnie">Annie Dowie</persName> bids me inform you
               particularly that she has turn sous – the loveliest </p>
            <p>babies ever seen. – named <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Robert">Robert
                  Chambers</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#EvanderJames">James
                  Evander</persName> – &amp; she is so very happy with them &amp; as proud as a
               peacock. – In her letter she says “be sure and tell <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben</persName>.” – I got <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SmithCarry">Carry Smith</persName>’s wedding cards
               yesterday. – So the world <mod type="subst"><del rend="squiggles">gos</del><add
                     place="above">goes</add></mod> goes on - you see. Well, never mind, your turn
               will come by &amp; by – work away &amp; never fear. – I think with satisfaction that
               its only 10 days to the mail. – Goodbye <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs>. – Sunday. 29. <choice>
                  <abbr>Jan<hi rend="superscript">r</hi></abbr>
                  <expan>January</expan>
               </choice>. – I came back from <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cambridge"
                  >Cambridge</placeName> last night – after a pleasant walk – with mornings of work:
               first we settled our business at once &amp; I buckled to. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Mr Macmillan</persName> gives me
                  <measure type="currency">£100</measure>
               <add place="above">again</add> – to rise if work rises. – &amp; I am to go through
               all their light M.S.J. – not mathematical of course! I am sure I can do it easily
               &amp; it will be a great comfort. He &amp; I agree so well – both intellectually
               &amp; morally – that we shall work together capitally – I doubt not. – In all the
               business we got this last week – we found I had <unclear>metractody</unclear> come to
               the same decision they had without telling me beforehand: which was satisfactory on
               both sides. We also settled the “child’s year-book”. – 12 child’s poems &amp;c –
               which I write &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence"
                  >Clarence</persName> illustrates. A first-rate thing for <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName> to get into the
                  <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Macmillan">Macmillan</orgName> connection – &amp;
               he is so pleased. – His designs are capital. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LintonWJ">W. J. Linton</persName>, who engraves, was
               delighted with them. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence"
                  >Clarence</persName> will do:. – genius or no genius - you’ll see. - It was great
               excitement Friday &amp; Saturday – as Friday was giving the list of degrees. – &amp;
               a Scottish lad we knew was expected to be Senior Wrangler – which he was: beating the
               second <unclear>hallow</unclear> – difference of marks being 9500 to 4700. – Poor lad
               – he bore his honors so meekly &amp; yet happily – seeming chiefly to feel how it
               would delight “my four sisters” – &amp; what a glory it would be to the <add
                  place="above">High</add> school at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Aberdeen"
                  >Aberdeen</placeName>. – Yesterday the degrees were conferred – such a pretty
               sight: &amp; such lots of proud mothers &amp; sisters parading about. To see the 2<hi
                  rend="superscript">nd</hi> Wrangler with his sister on his was a perfect sight –
               so beaming were they: it made me feel choky – indeed I own to have felt choky more or
               less all day. I have never quite got out of the feeling which I had once so strongly
               when you were at the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LondonUniversity">London
                  University</orgName> – &amp; Demogorgon used to enlarge <unclear>tofen</unclear>
               what you <hi rend="underline">would</hi> do at <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cambridge">Cambridge</placeName> – But you never could
               have stood the grinding – &amp; health is the chief thing. – </p>
            <p>Evening. – I could not finish: as I had to go to Church early it being communion
               Sunday. – I have joined my “conventicle” in that also: – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrBurns">Mr Burns</persName> knows quite well how much I
               differ <add place="above">in</add> some points: but he told me he felt I was “a
               Christian”– which was all he desired – &amp; asked me to go. In the afternoon
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FiskHenry">Henry Fisk</persName> &amp; the
                  <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Field">Field family</orgName> called. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrField">Mr Field</persName> asked to see your <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath">Hampstead</placeName>
               <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> &amp; admired them much – particularly the strawberry plants &amp; the
               Village. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissMontgomery">Miss
                  Montgomery</persName>, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissBlythe">Miss
                  Blythe</persName>, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura"
                  >Laura</persName>: – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence"
                  >Clarence</persName>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName>. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissCoates">E. Coates</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName> – ensued – &amp;
               now all having departed I settle to my letter before going to bed. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName> is so pleased about
               the designs. – He is also trying for a <measure type="currency">£100</measure> prize
               – “Idylls of King” – Art – <unclear>Mason</unclear>.– <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> came &amp; stayed an hour
               &amp; had lunch also. – We all go to <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName>’s birthday
               tomorrow. – I have never got the parcel of <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> – after a few days I wrote <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrWatson">Mr
                  Watson</persName>: he said he could only furnish us with <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLears">Mrs Lears</persName>’s address. I wrote her –
               but got no answer. – I have now got a person who knows Upper <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Clayton">Clayton</placeName> to find out if she is still
               living there, &amp; call at the house: – Which is the only plan I can think of, of
               tracing the parcel – as you don’t mention the friend’s name – &amp; your sentence
               leaves it doubtful whether it would be left with said friend’s wife or <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrLewis">Mr Lewis</persName>’s. – I have puzzled in vain –
               it has vexed me considerably – not knowing how on earth to track the parcel. –
               However the last enquiry may result in something. – I hope by next Sunday the mail
               will be in: – for I am getting very anxious – one always imagines something will have
               happened <unclear>etiver</unclear><unclear>whides</unclear>. – I have expected
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">Springfield</persName> today
               – but he did not appear. – Nor did <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances"
                  >Fanny</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane"
                  >Jane</persName> – who promised – they probably forgot all about it. – Now I am so
               very tired that I must say goodnight &amp; go to bed – God bless you <rs
                  type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs>. – Tuesday –
               I break on my ordinary routine to say that last night <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLewis">Mrs Lewis</persName> sent me the <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos.</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> which are lovely – especially the two Calzadas – the tunnel – &amp; the
               exquisite bit of bay with two trees standing up – on “middle distance” – the
               distances altogether are wonderful – everything looks so exquisitely clear: they beat
               even the best <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath"
                  >Hampstead</placeName>
               <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos.</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> – What a pleasure they’ll be – when mounted. – I felt like to cry over them
               last night. – </p>
            <p>Sunday <choice>
                  <abbr>Feb</abbr>
                  <expan>February</expan>
               </choice> 5th: – Your letter did not come last night – which was very disappointing –
               as owing to the “dies non”<anchor xml:id="n1"/> – must wait till tomorrow for it. – I
               try not to fidget but to hope it will bring good news. – The week has been placid as
               usual. Monday <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr
                  Marston</persName>’s birthday – When he gave your health in a manner neat brief
               &amp; affectionate – so you were not forgotten. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> &amp; I – at dinner –
               Afterwards <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsJames">Mrs James</persName> –
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissCoates">Miss Coates</persName> – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Miss Herford</persName> – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName> &amp; the usual lot.
               Charades &amp;c. – Everything past as usual every time there ten years. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName>, <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Laura</persName>, <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Carry">Carry</persName> &amp; I came home in <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ChapmanFrederic">Chapman</persName>’s fly. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie Miers</persName> was here on Wednesday –
               how she did delight in the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Brazil"
                  >Brazil</placeName>
               <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice>! – Certainly they are wonderfully good – I seem quite to know every bit of
               your entourage. – And the little black ghosts amused <choice>
                  <sic>as</sic>
                  <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JarmulaSonia">us</reg>
               </choice> so. – On the whole the sea views are most admired – &amp; the telegraph
               home with the wood <unclear>inkind</unclear>. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MayallJoe">Joe Mayall</persName> was here &amp; made
               himself very agreeable from 7.40 to 9.20 one morning – telling me all his doings,
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MayallJohn">John</persName>’s &amp; “<rs
                  type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MayallJohnJr">Mr Mayall</rs>’s” in a <choice>
                  <sic>confedentiale</sic>
                  <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">confidential</reg>
               </choice> manner. I like him – He &amp; <persName
                  resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MayallJohn">John</persName> seem to be doing pretty well
               – But he says they are going both to write you by this mail – so I will say no more.
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">Springfield</persName> also
               wrote me a long letter – but as you will get one also, I won’t repeat his news
               either. – Friday <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissCoates">Miss Coates</persName> &amp; I went
               with <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Mudie">the Mudies</orgName> to Lobgesang &amp;
               Dettingen. – C. Novello. Sun's Reeves &amp;c. – oh so lovely! – about the grandest
               evening as to music I ever remember in <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ExeterHall"
                  >Ex. Hall</placeName>. – But I never feel happy there now, it always frets me so
               extremely to think that you can’t get it – However you as well as other people must
               strike the balance of evils. – I’d rather have you out there working bravely than
               being wretched here – “return with your shield or return upon it.” – at 33 you’ll be
               quite a young man still. I got a letter from <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ReadeElizabeth">Lizzie</persName>, yesterday. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ReadeThomasMellard">Tom</persName> has set up for himself
               as an architect in <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Liverpool"
                  >Liverpool</placeName> – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ReadeWilliam"
                  >Will</persName> is “<unclear>as</unclear>” to <measure type="currency"
                  >£120</measure>. – They seem all right &amp; comfortable. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Macmillan</persName> have settled
               their matter – he is to illustrate my child’s book – which will come out by
               midsummer. They like one another. &amp; I hope it may be <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName>’s starting in earning
               some money – poor boy! – he has had a hard time. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonWestland">Mr Marston</persName> brought his novel
               complete – for us to read – &amp; actually correct! – which he takes mildly. – It is
               exceedingly good &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander"
                  >Macmillan</persName> is sure to have it. It is curious what a deal of good has
               resulted from my instinctive liking to <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Mr Macmillan</persName> – &amp; his
               equally sudden liking to me. – One of those odd first sight instincts which are
               perfectly unaccountable – yet which I trust more &amp; more, the older I grow. – I
               have done another week’s work as “reader” – &amp; settled several people’s hashes –
               oh </p>
            <p>why will <hi rend="underline">some</hi> people turn authors! – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WrightMaria">Maria Wright</persName> was married on
               Thursday – to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpensArundel">Mr Arundel
                  Spens</persName> – Bengal Arang” – and <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WrightMaria">Wright</persName> wrote me <del
                  rend="strikethrough">af</del> third affectionate epistle to come &amp; be
               bridesmaid! – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockAlicia">Aunt Alicia</persName>
               &amp; I mean to go &amp; see them some time – it will be funny – won’t it? – I hear
               of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WrightWilliam">William Wright</persName> often
               from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie Miers</persName>
               <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Kensington">Kensington</placeName> friend – how
               good his sermons are, &amp; how he works in his parish. – Dear me – what a curious
               thing life is. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> &amp;
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> met Fortune
               likewise – at <unclear>Ernmer</unclear>
               <persName cert="low" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersKatie">Catherine</persName>’s party
               the other day. – <persName>George <unclear>Scibiler</unclear></persName> always
               benignly inquires for you, I believe. – But I must spend no more paper till my letter
               comes in tomorrow. – Oh by the by I got a letter from <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrWVesper">Mr W. Vesper</persName> saying where should he
               send you a cheque from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsGilks">Mrs
                  Gilks</persName>? – I said, to me: it will go down in your money which I keep. –
               Tuesday <choice>
                  <abbr>Feb</abbr>
                  <expan>February</expan>
               </choice> 7. – I can hardly say how great a relief &amp; comfort was my letter of
               yesterday morning. I was busy all day trying to get the things you wanted sent off by
               this mail – for fear of failure next – &amp; in the evening <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">Spingfield</persName> came &amp; stayed
               till 10.30 – so I couldn’t write till now. – Well, to answer yours! – It is in every
               way thoroughly satisfactory – especially the private one. You give me all the
               information I want – my mind is greatly relieved concerning your health. You are
               doing everything I like &amp; being every thing I want you to be. – In the bedroom
               –&amp; closet you’re right – don’t stint yourself. – Any money you send out to me
               just say what I’m to do with it – Funds – Bank deposit – shares or what – You know
               you ought to be able to get at it with out loss from selling out: it isn't like mine
               of where I only want the interest. My <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> are beautiful – they are put into <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottAlbert">Albert</persName>’s book – th<mod type="subst"
                     ><del rend="overwrite">y</del><add place="inline">e</add></mod> only way of
               preserving them as everybody asks to see them. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellGeorge">Mr Lovell</persName> has mounted <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName>’s <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> very nicely – but he wished me to tell you that he thinks in the distant
               views you don’t make the stereoscopic angle <add place="above">wide</add> enough – so
               as to throw them out <add place="above"><unclear>stereoscopicals</unclear></add> –
               The near ones – banana leaves &amp;c – he says are beautiful. – I don’t know if I
               make <add place="above">this</add> clear – he tried hard to make it clear to me –
               &amp; repeated literally several times what I was to say to you – but I forget the
               precise words after all. He came in on Sunday &amp; spent a long time over the large
                  <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Brazil">Brazil</placeName> prints. My 3 new
               ones are the nicest yet – especially the one with the big hill &amp; the sea. –
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrField">Mr Field</persName> was noticing over
               the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath">Hampstead</placeName> ones
               that you seemed to have such <add place="above">an</add> artistic eye to seize the
               best point of a view: he pointed out this &amp; preached a deal about “balancing”
               &amp;c. – I should think the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bahia"
                  >Bahia</placeName> views would do first-rate – &amp; sell here too: – only don’t
               overwork yourself. – Yesterday, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsFry">Mrs Aleck
                  Fry</persName> (<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersFrancis">Frank
                  Miers</persName>’ sister-in-law) whom in my despair of ever getting the <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> I asked to</p>
            <p>call on <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLewis">Mrs Lewis</persName> – came &amp;
               told me a woeful tale of said <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLewis">Mrs
                  Lewis</persName> – she is so poor – nearly starving. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrLewis">Mr Lewis</persName> sent her no remembrance last
               mail, but word that he had been dismissed at a month’s notice by <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrWatson">Mr Watson</persName>. – Is it so? – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsFry">Mrs Fry</persName> whose compassion was greatly
               excited, came to ask me what I knew – which was nil. – I said you never mentioned
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrLewis">Mr Lewis</persName>. <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLewis">The wife</rs> – an <unclear>Station</unclear>
               lady, owns that tho’ very clever he is a great spendthrift. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsFry">Mrs Fry</persName> wanted to write to <rs
                  type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FryAleck">her husband</rs> at <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#RiodeJaneiro">Rio</placeName> to help him, but I persuaded
               her not – till we knew more: she had much better help <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLewis">the wife</rs>: which she will. – Now just tell
               me in your next – <hi rend="underline">confidentially</hi> – what <hi
                  rend="underline">you</hi> think of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrLewis"
                  >Lewis</persName> – is he an honest man or not – &amp; why was he dismissed? –
               Until then the matter rests: for I have made <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsFry">Mrs Fry</persName> see that it won’t do to bother
                  <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FryAleck">her husband</rs> about an
               unworthy or doubtful character: &amp; I’m sure <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrWatson">Mr Watson</persName> would not have dismissed
               him for nothing – He took him out of charity, on the recommendation of some ladies
               whom <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsFry">Mrs Fry</persName> knows. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">Springfield</persName> is very
                  <unclear>culing</unclear> &amp; down: – but means to screw up his courage &amp;
               settle something today with <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#EastonAmos">Easton &amp;
                  Amos</orgName> – I’ll tell you the last thing – but space &amp; paper is valuable.
               I am very well, thank you, my dearest boy – eyes quite well, so much business I can
               but just get through it – and as you will see, very little solitude: not enough to do
               me the least harm. – I enclose <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
                  >Marian</persName>’s note which she brought in before starting on a 3 day’s visit
               in town. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> read your
               public letter – &amp; as she said there was not much about yourself in it – I told
               her a few things about your good health &amp; so on which you say in the private
               letter – which however of course I keep entirely to myself. – Indeed nobody has read
               even your public letters but <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna"
                  >Minna</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
                  >Marian</persName> &amp; <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockAunts">the
                  Aunts</orgName>: – Oh yes – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie"
                  >Annie</persName> does – &amp; delights in them exceedingly. She begged me to tell
               you how much she enjoyed them &amp; the <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos.</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> – It’s quite pathetic to see how she hangs over the Brazilian views which
               belonged to the days of her childhood. She comes tomorrow till Friday – when she
               starts on off to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bath">Bath</placeName>, &amp;
               thence to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">Detmore</placeName> - for a
               month's absence between my mails. – Somebody observed satisfiably that “all <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah</persName>’s proceedings were – regulated by
                  <hi rend="underline">males</hi>” – which you will of course appreciate. Do you
               make jokes as ever? I’m glad of <persName cert="high"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WilsonHugh">Wilson</persName> turning up – how funny it
               must seem to talk over <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Liverpool"
                  >Liverpool</placeName>! – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny
                  Martin</persName> sends you this introduction: if you like to use it. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Nicolay">Mr Nicolay</persName> might be a pleasant
               acquaintance. – Remember you are now in a position that even you needn’t be “proud”
               about making friends. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances"
                  >Fanny</persName> hesitated as to whether you would like the introduction from her
               – but I said I was sure you would: – so send her a friendly message back – as she had
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> take a most kindly
               interest in all your concerns. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinCurtiss"
                  >Curtiss</persName>, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinHannah"
                  >Hannah</persName>, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances"
                  >Frances</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane"
                  >Jane</persName> called on Sunday, he is well again. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> was fierce against him to me
               in private: says he is selfish to the core – he grieves <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> unutterably. – Oh how much
               have I to be thankful for that you never never so grieved me! – </p>
            <p>Tuesday night - I think now your “wants” are “all supplied.” – <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BowesRobert">Mr Macmillan’s nephew</rs> who has got me the
               books – Portuguese - <choice>
                  <abbr>Pho.</abbr>
                  <expan>Photograph</expan>
               </choice> Journal – <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cornhill">Cornhill</title> –
                  <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillansMagazine">Macmillan</title> &amp;
                  <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AllTheYearRound">All Year Round</title> –
               writes that they will be at <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrFrancis"
                  >Francis</persName>’s tonight – Also possibly some cheap <unclear><hi
                     rend="underline">mes.</hi></unclear>
               <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrWatson">Mr Watson</persName> says an employ’e
               will take out everything else – so your umbrella &amp; 3 knives,
                  <unclear>chirm</unclear> by <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge"
                  >Springfield</persName> – go to <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ParliamentStreet">47 Parliament S<hi rend="superscript"
                     >t</hi></placeName> tomorrow, I said, the employ’e may open umbrella &amp; use
               knives which will save duty. – Your cardboard mounts I also ordered <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrFrancis">Francis</persName> to put in his parcel, &amp;
               send bill to me. – <hi rend="underline">He</hi> directs “Mr D. Mulock” – &amp; Mr
               Watson “<hi rend="underline">Mrs</hi> Mulock” – so they must have rather dim ideas
               about me! – I think, between the <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrFrancis"
                  >Francis</persName> packets, &amp; the Employ’e – <hi rend="underline"
                  >everything</hi> you named will go to you by this mail. – It has been most
               creditably managed I assure you! <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances"
                  >Fanny</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane"
                  >Jane</persName> were here to tea &amp; wished to hear some of your letter &amp;
               sent kind remembrance. They urged upon me to make a white cover for the umbrella! –
               but there’s no time. &amp; possibly you would not use it. They say, you need not fear
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Nicolay">Nicolay</persName>: being a <hi
                  rend="underline">fine</hi> friend – he is a broken ruined man – with about 15
               small children now in <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#England"
               >England</placeName>. – You can’t object to his acquaintance. Wednesday. Now to end.
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">Springfield</persName> sent
               umbrella – <measure type="currency">13.0</measure> – &amp; maker says, <del
                  rend="strikethrough">will</del> you should have white cover over it. I’d make it,
               but no time. Knives <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge"
                  >G.S</rs> says have only 2 blades 3 bladed knives being so small. <measure
                  type="currency">31</measure> each – Mappins. – <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">G.S</rs> had not time to write – but
                  <rs type="org" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#EastonAmos">E. &amp; A.</rs> are
               considering the <measure type="currency">£200</measure>. – &amp; also hint at
               partnership or business – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrWatson">Mr
                  Watson</persName> has put <hi rend="underline">his</hi> name down for possible
               employment. – I hope you will get you things all right. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Min</persName> has just been here &amp; waits
               to go with me to the post. She speaks very affectionately of you – &amp; takes an
               interest in all belonging to you – but insists that it is only sisterly. – &amp; that
               in your heart you have only a brotherly affection for her - &amp; not the love that a
               man should have for his wife. God knows! – I don’t say a word one way or other. – You
                  <hi rend="underline">must</hi> just work your way like a brave man – quite
               independent of anything – &amp; you will find your reward in God’s good time if He
               pleases. – I can’t say any more than that. – I am so glad you enjoyed your <rs
                  type="event" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#NewYears">new year</rs>’s letter – It ought
               to be a comfort to you how very happy your letters make <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Sister</rs>. – I think I told you I was quite well.
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LittleMary">Mary</persName> is turning out a
               very good servant – &amp; her baby thrives &amp; it &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Christopher">Christopher</persName> are on the most
               friendly terms. – I hope at the three years end you will be back at <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName> – Now if you order
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrWatson">Mr Watson</persName> to pay me, say at
               the same time what I shall do with the money – whether you would like it sunk, or put
               where you can get at it. – or if I shall invest it in your name &amp; my own. I did
               think of asking <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrMiers">Mr Miers</persName> what
               he would think a safe Brazilian investment – I know he has a deal of money invested
               there – for he was recommending me once, as getting larger interest. – now <rs
                  type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs> – God bless
               you – &amp; go on well &amp; prosperous &amp; don’t have “ghosts” or be afraid of
               anything – I send 3 “<title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Times">Times</title>”. – </p>
            <p><persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrTomlinson">Mr Tomlinson</persName> read it – The
               Squabble afterwards was very amusing &amp; instructive. – Then half the company went
               up to the wee parlour – where <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie"
                  >Annie</persName> fed them on as much tea coffee cake &amp; bread &amp; butter as
               ever they could eat – It being “tea &amp; turn-out” – like the Forcano parties – or
               as <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsZiepel">Mrs Ziepel</persName> put it –
               “people to have their tea before they come &amp; miss supper after they get home.” –
               The tea succeeded admirably – the only failure being the “turn-out” – for everybody
               declined to go – &amp; settled calmly down to games &amp; chat till after eleven –
               &amp; with great difficulty were “turned out” then. It was universally owned to be
               the most brilliant squabble yet – &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie"
                  >Annie</persName> &amp; I were quite proud. She stayed over next day – When I had
               a tea-party of the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Burns">Burns</orgName> –
                  <persName>Alison</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna"
                  >Minna</persName> &amp; <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
                  >Marian</persName> – also successful. – Today she left – to write her letters for
               the mail. – I have sent off your parcel for <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrBoor"
                  >Mr Sydney Boor</persName> – containing <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Times"
                  >Times</title> – <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LloydsList">Lloyd’s</title> –
                  <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cornhill">Cornhill</title> – <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillansMagazine">Macmillan</title> – <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AllTheYearRound">All Year Round</title> – &amp; its
                  <rs type="event" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Christmas">Xmas</rs> N<hi
                  rend="superscript">o</hi> – Poems – (<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
                  >Marian</persName>’s copy as I couldn’t get another in time) &amp; your <orgName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockAunts">aunts</orgName> letters – <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">Detmore</placeName> letters <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrBoor">Mr Boor</persName> brings separate, as they came
               too late for the parcel – Letters all opened – as otherwise there is a penalty of
                  <measure type="currency">£20</measure> – but I have read none of them. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrBoor">Mr Boor</persName> only offered to take a small
               parcel – so I thought “something to read” was the best thing to fill it up with. I
               wanted to send a plum-pudding – but <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie"
                  >Annie</persName> with her usual wisdom suggested that it mightn’t agree with you!
               – &amp; that there were many other things you might like better – so I compromised
               with a bit of holly &amp; ivy – which I hope will make you feel cool &amp; <rs
                  type="event" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Christmas">Xmas</rs>-like. – Everybody sends
               you kind messages – &amp; today there has been several callers &amp; applications to
               hear what you say in your letter. – Poor <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson</persName> seemed to envy me the
               comfort I have in you – as well she might confined with <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinCurtiss">Curtiss</persName>. – I wrote a line to
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersJohn">John Miers</persName> at <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#RiodeJaneiro">Rio</placeName> – about <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">Springfield</persName> – who was very
               anxious I should – He knows the firm – they are customers of <orgName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#EastonAmos">Easton &amp; Amos</orgName>. – Probably
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SpringfieldGeorge">Springfield</persName> will
               write you – I am so glad you have written to him – <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs> says he has sent you some <title
                  corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Times">Times</title> – you will have a good <choice>
                  <sic>handfull</sic>
                  <reg resp="DigitalDinahCraik.xml#JarmulaSonia">handful</reg>
               </choice> of literature by this mail – </p>
            <p>Your <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockEliza">Aunt Eliza</persName>’s <rs
                  type="event" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#NewYears">new years</rs> gift to you –
                  <measure type="currency">£1</measure> – I keep till you say what you would like
               bought with it. – Now to answer your General letter. – Never mind how photographic
               they are – it’s all interesting – You have no idea how extremely interesting you make
               your letters – whatever they are about. – I’m glad you don’t work on Sundays. I’m
               afraid you want badly a little “cheerful society” – even <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissBlythe">Miss Blythe</persName> might not be unwelcome
               now!! – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Morris">Morris</persName> you had not named
               before – I am glad there’s one nice fellow in the lot – It’s a “curious &amp;
               remarkable fact” that you always take to the nice respectable people! – &amp; they to
               you. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie</persName> was saying
               today when your <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">Detmore</placeName>
               letters came – “What a number of good <hi rend="underline">women</hi> seem to be fond
               of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben</persName>.” – &amp; that it was
               the best secondary evidence of your being good yourself. – She was so delighted with
               the <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> – the little ones – which really are exquisite – so clear &amp; perfect. –
               I am looking forward to the parcel from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLewis"
                  >Mrs Lewis</persName> – which has not been heard of yet. – Your picture of the
               “Coast of <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Africa">Africa</placeName>” <hi
                  rend="underline">is</hi> fearful! – &amp; I’m afraid the heat tries you very much
               – &amp; shall be very anxious for the next mail. I hope you take every store against
               sun-strokes – that’s the dreadful thing, especially with your habit of running out
               bareheaded – What sort of hat do you wear? – Be sure to say exactly how you have been
               in health – through the month. I hope the excursion with <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrOgilvie">Mr Ogilvie</persName> will have done you no
               harms – tho’ it is so hot – There’s always the dreadful feeling of suspicion between
               mail &amp; mail – but one must make up one’s mind to it. – <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie</persName> had good news from her people
               at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#RiodeJaneiro">Rio</placeName> – her younger
               brother <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersFrancis">Frank</persName> with his
               wife &amp; family are coming home by the April or May mail – you must try &amp;
               manage to run on board &amp; see them if for only ten minutes – that they may bring
               me word they have seen you. – If either <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersJohn"
                  >John</persName> or <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersFrancis">Frank
                  Miers</persName> are in <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bahia"
                  >Bahia</placeName> they say they shall hunt you out &amp; go &amp; see you – &amp;
               they sent you by last mail</p>
            <p>a warm invitation to go to them at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#RiodeJaneiro"
                  >Rio</placeName>, if you ever had a chance of visiting the place. – I’m afraid
               you’ll find you have to give up your “Miller of Dee” character<anchor xml:id="n2"/> –
               &amp; respond to the general kindliness of the world towards you. – I must now end;
               it being very late &amp; I very tired. – Goodnight, <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs> – I’m grieved to have vexed
               you so – indeed I did not mean it – you quite mistook nearly all I said – but we
               won’t waste paper any more. – People ought to be careful of the least approach to
               “scolding” at the distance of a month &amp; some thousand miles. – it will be a
               warning to me henceforth. Saturday – 7<hi rend="superscript">th</hi>
               <choice>
                  <abbr>Jan</abbr>
                  <expan>January</expan>
               </choice> – I’ve just been in to fetch &amp; re-read your letter to <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName>. They were delighted with the <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice> – which indeed are lovely – &amp; give a complete idea of your
               surroundings. – I hardly know which I like best – except perhaps the well-house, the
               coco-nut palm – the <unclear>Calcada</unclear> – &amp; the railway
                  <unclear>cutting</unclear>. – What beautiful vegetation – There must be many nice
               things about <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bahia">Bahia</placeName> – if it were
               not so awfully hot &amp; so dull – but you may get to know more people &amp;
                  <unclear>hiser</unclear> by &amp; by – I suppose <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinCurtiss">Curtiss</persName> has put the <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Nicolay">Nicolay</persName>’s out of <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName>’s head – as she has not
               sent me the introduction &amp; I can’t <choice>
                  <sic>teaze</sic>
                  <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">tease</reg>
               </choice> her about it now – or possibly they have left <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bahia">Bahia</placeName>. – What about the Emperor? We
               heard he paid a visit to your line – &amp; I thought of your black clothes! for you
               would probably be among the officials who had to receive him – Tell all about it in
               your next &amp; whether he asked you to dinner &amp; sat for his <choice>
                  <abbr>Pho</abbr>
                  <expan>Photograph</expan>
               </choice>! – I believe he is a very nice intelligent young man – &amp; particularly
               fond of English people. How lovely the fireflies must be. – But the “feeding” can’t
               be very nice with bread bad &amp; milk nowhere – &amp; indefinite tea. – Ah <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben</persName>. I know well you must have lots
               of annoyances – but you didn’t go for pleasure – so keep up &amp; make the best of
               things. – Write me all your troubles: &amp; always let me have a private letter – it
               is but fair &amp; right. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissCoates">Miss
                  Coates</persName> is much pleased that her case is so effective. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> bids me say she will write
               you a good long letter by next mail. – I will keep my letter open till the last
               minute to see if the parcel comes – but it has not as yet – so in my case I can only
               acknowledge it &amp; defer criticism till Sunday. – It’s a <hi rend="underline"
                  >great</hi> pleasure having nice <choice>
                  <abbr>Phos</abbr>
                  <expan>Photographs</expan>
               </choice>. – The portrait of you among Bananas is rather grim – but still not bad. –
               Send a large </p>
            <p>portrait, the first you take – that we may see if you are altered. The delicacy of
               these prints is wonderful – such as the distance in the view across the bay &amp; in
               the well-house one – but the trees seem to stir dreadfully. – N<hi rend="superscript"
                  >o</hi> 11 with your house at the corner I like very much, though less than N<hi
                  rend="superscript">o</hi> 12. – What an awful “civilized” place though. – I’m
               afraid you’re out of the frying-pan into the fire: – except for the sea. Do you ever
               bathe? No sharks I hope. – I suppose you get baths in plenty of fresh water at the
               well-house – but salt water might be better. – I shall just leave this bit on the
               chance of the parcel: otherwise I have said I think all that is to be said. –
               Afternoon – So now I must seal &amp; post my letter – with the parcel never come, but
               doubtless will – I have put my P.S. <hi rend="underline">outside</hi> – that you may
               not miss <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrBoor">Mr Sydney Boor</persName>. – &amp;
               I hope the parcel by then will reach you safe – You will find the arnica plaster in
                  <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockAunts">the Aunts’</orgName> letter. – –
               Here I was interrupted by the apparition of <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DrStorrar">Dr</rs> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsStorrar">Mrs Storrar</persName> – who you may remember
               as belonging to the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Marston">Marstons</orgName>
               parties of long ago: friends of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsCrowe">Mrs
                  Crowe</persName>. – They also are come to live at <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath">Hampstead</placeName>. – The <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PondStreetStation">Pond S<hi rend="superscript">t</hi>
                  railway</placeName> is open: a big station &amp; grand. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie</persName> went home by it. It is so
               convenient for <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Richmond">Richmond</placeName> that
                  <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> &amp; <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> are likely permanently to
               settle near– – Today is lovely but very sharp &amp; frosty – I wish I could send you
               a bit of cold weather – &amp; yet you mightn’t like it if you had it. – I have fallen
               into work again of a mild fever – extracts for <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Macmillan</persName> – &amp; a book of
               children’s poetry – which will probably go to <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacmillanAlexander">Macmillan</persName> also. – &amp;
               which I want <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName> to
               illustrate. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName>
               returns to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#London">London</placeName> on Monday
               next – He said he was going to write you by this mail – but I think he has been busy
               &amp; put it off till next. – I got a <rs type="event"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Christmas">Xmas</rs> letter from <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ReadeElizabeth">Lizzie</persName> – she is better – but
                  <unclear>hint</unclear> has had me of her bad attacks of spasms – ill 3 weeks. –
               The rest well. – I have seen nothing of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith"
                  >Harvey Smith</persName> – nor have <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Blythes">the
                  Blythes</orgName>. You are constantly talked about &amp; ask after by <placeName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath">Hampstead</placeName> generally – &amp;
               everybody takes an interest in the news of you. You are decidedly a Hero in a small
               way to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath">Hampstead</placeName>. – if
               that’s any satisfaction to you– – God bless you – <rs type="person"
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs> – I can’t say any more – </p>
            <closer>
               <salute>Ever your affectionate</salute>
               <lb/>
               <lb/>
               <signed>
                  <persName><rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Sister</rs></persName>
               </signed>
               <lb/>
            </closer>
            <postscript>
               <p/>
            </postscript>
         </div>
      </body>
      <back>
         <div type="notes">
            <note target="#n1" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">Short for <hi rend="italics">dies
                  non juridicus</hi>, dies non is a day where no legal business is transacted, or
               which is not reckoned in counting days for some particular purpose. <lb/>"dies, n.b."
               OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2020, www.oed.com/view/Entry/52417.</note>
            <note target="#n2" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">The "Miller of Dee" was a
               character in an English song who was flagrantly self-sufficient who did not need
               anybody and therefore did not need to care about others. <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah</persName> is indicating that <persName
                  ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben Mulock</persName> has a reluctance and
               wariness to making new friends through this metaphor. <lb/>"Love in a Village."
               Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase &amp; Fable. Eds. McMahon, Sean, and Jo
               O'Donoghue. : Chambers Harrap Publishers, , 2011. Oxford Reference.
               https://www-oxfordreference-com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/view/10.1093/acref/9780199916191.001.0001/acref-9780199916191-e-3214.</note>
         </div>
      </back>
   </text>
</TEI>
Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, January 8 1860 Dinah Mulock Craik Karen Bourrier Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of Calgary Karen Bourrier Transcription August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of transcription September 2020 by Sonia Jarmula TEI encoding August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of TEI encoding September 2020 by Sonia Jarmula First digital edition in TEI, date: August 2020. P5. Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2020

Reproduced by courtesy of the University of California at Los Angeles .

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Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of California at Los Angeles Charles E. Young Research Library Mulock Family Papers 846 Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, January 8 1860 Box 1, Folder 8

Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded.

[1860] Sunday – 8th Jan. January

It seems rather amusing to begin another letter seeing I only posted my last yesterday! – but I don’t like to break the rule of writing to you every Sunday morning. It’s hardly possible to make you understand how badly I want you on Sundays – & many others time – & how nothing but the conviction that you never would be happy with me & never were – & you perhaps are happy knocking about alone, reconciles me to things as they are. – The Ziepels had the benefit of your news & Phos photographs that night – with which they were greatly delighted – & considerably amused at your idea of your letters being “not interesting.” – he was much impressed with the awful heat you must live in – indeed I, non-meteorological, hadn’t noticed how very hot it must be – almost as bad as a permanent Begert St. – I doubt if you will ever stand it – if so you must come home & try Photography elsewhere. I see one Photographer firm has likely sent a man out of to Japan – so doubtless you would have little difficulty on getting out somewhere else. – I don’t mind yours! being dull – without society – & hard-worked – everybody in every portion must have something to bear: – but I mind very much any risk of health. You must not do it. Don’t go on the water – it’s by the sea they get yellow fever. – Your not having boils reflects that they have disappeared & you being 2 lb fatter is a good thing. – I hope you will always state clearly how you are in health: – but I can’t help feeling very anxious. – Laura - Mrs Herford & Marian & Mr Marston will be the Sunday collection today I think. – I wish I knew where to send for your parcel – for it has never come. probably Mrs Lewis is busy waiting for her mail. – Well I’ll not waste paper any more – having of course no news. – Sunday morning Jan January 15. – after a rather full & busy week. – I have been ilrc at work over an Essay that you will find in the Feb. February Macmillan. so need say no more about it. – Tuesday. I alas at tea at the Clock House to meet Laura’s brother William – schoolmaster from Lancaster – rather a nice individual. – there I heard that poor Mrs Ziepel that morning had got news that her mother had been dead a week: the poor old lady died alone - all her children away. – & nobody let the Ziepels know till all was over – not even that she was ill. Mrs Ziepel’s grief was some-

thing dreadful. – Wednesday I went with Gothic Cottage to a party at the Englishwomen’s Journal – & catch me going to another party anywhere! though it was over at 10 P.M. Such a black hole of Calcutta I never knew. About 500 people crammed in two rooms. – a few “strong-minded” – with waistcoats, cravats & short hair – but the general lot one’s usual acquaintance. They invited 450. Carry having 450 “friends.” – Marian & Laura Herford seemed greatly amused – but for my part I couldn’t stand it & was thankful to get home. – On Thursday I had Amy Paten spending the day at Wildwood. She is visiting the Ferguses here – & Joe charged her to find me out – It is curious how people come back to one, full of love & kindness – if one only has patience to wait. – Few things have been more pleasant to me than Amy coming to me again – & pouring out all her troubles for these 10 years. – Her father married again – turned men all adrift & Joe took them in. – & Amy & Walter have lived with him ever since. Also his brother-in-law Mr Rosburgh failed – & his has kept them too. – So good & true as he has turned out – such a faithful brother, such a loving husband & father – it does one’s heart good to think of it. – They want me to come & spend part of the summer with them at some quiet seaside place – & help in spoiling the baby: – which probably I should – a trifle! – but I doubt if I shall go. There is another baby coming in June – I suppose you can hardly understand the sort of feeling I have towards Joe’s children. – Friday I did an awful exploit – went with the Mudie’s to hear Samson It would have been nice – if I could have got you out of my head – which I couldn’t: – it seemed so hard you could not enjoy it. – Sun’s Reeves Total eclipse was exquisite – so was "Round about the Starry thone" - & "Fixed." – though my enjoyment of the latter was rather stopped by Mr Mudie whispering “Look at the Queen.” – who was such extraordinary individual, walking with a fierce resolution, & throwing him back in the intervals of the “thunder's roar." – as if he felt the whole weight of the chorus risked on the Queen – that I went into fits of laughing – inwardly. –

The last chorus was very fine. – also “Let the Bright Seraphim” with Harpes obligate trumpet – Mudie’s keen enjoyment – honest little man – was quite pleasant. They have gone regularly to Exeter Hall for about 30 years. He has 20 tickets for every concert – which he distributes among friends – & clerks – had 5 clerks there that night. – He said to me pointing to a bearded gentlemanly young man who sat near with his wife & sister – “Did you ever see him before? – He was my errand-boy in King St. – Honest Mudie – ah Ben you wronged him when you scouted his attentions because he was a “fine” friend. – He does a world of good with both his money & his influence – & they are as simple and kindly a family as can be. I slept there – & went after breakfast to spend the day with Amy Paten at Brompton – coming home in time for Minna who was here to tea – also Mr Marston & Nelly. – Mr Marston brought me Vol Volume 1 of his novel complete – Minna stopped till 10.P.M. – When May took her safe home. I think I enjoy Minna’s company more than ever – she is so very much softened down, & less irritable – & so extremely good & kind to me individually. She hardly ever gives me a sharp word. – She wants badly to go to the next Exeter Hall – & as Mr Mudie had asked after her particularly as “that pleasant young lady” when he had taken house for the Marstons – We agreed that I should go the length of asking him for two out of the 20 tickets & we would do the Lobgesang & Dettingen – somehow: together. – I feel somehow that it’s sore to tell you these things – considering your dull evenings: but it’s only temporary – be patient & work away - & you may yet be a prosperous man at home – with possibility of concerts & everything else. – Everybody must have their uphill season before they can get to the top of the tree – though yours has lasted a long, long time: – but I don’t think it will last for ever. – I had a letter from Cousin Lizzie lately where she says that a girl she knows, met another girl at Limerick

Ireland – whose brother out in Bahia – wrote home that they had had “a very pleasant addition to their party – a Mr Ben Mulock – an exceedingly agreeable young man!” – Who on earth is this brother – name I don’t know. – But you see the world is so small – do what you will you can’t escape from “friends”. – It is such a pouring wet Sunday that I can’t get to Church – so shall probably go in for a chat with Marian till dinner-time – & then go & see poor Mrs Ziepel & petition them to tea if they will come. – You see I manage to make Wildwood if not a Reformatory – a “haven” as Mrs Herford calls it – By the by, last Sunday’s collection was full – Mrs Herford LauraMarianMr Marston & Harvey Smith. – Marian & Harvey shook hands & behaved quite friendly – Poor Harvey – he’s a nice nice fellow. – Carry is to be married next month – & then Hatton-garden breaks up & they think of living at Sydenham. – There was a tremendous hard “talk” all evening – a sort of recapitulation of the late “squabble” – the subject "truth" has been squabbled over on intervals ever since – Harvey said energetically when he left that “he had spent a glorious evening!” – I feel a priggish pleasure in these Sunday Collections, which make a nice evening for so many “strays”. – also in the thought that old maid as I am – & solitary as Wildwood is – it isn’t a dreary house & every body seems glad to come to it. – Amy thought it such a pretty & pleasant house – She wants to go to Rome & study modelling - that she may make herself independent – but Joe is fierce & won’t hear of it – She asked me which I thought was right & I said she was. – for Joe may have a dozen children yet. & she would be much better and happier carving her own living. – & she’s so clever that she could do it easily. – She wants me to go with her to Rome next September & writer there!! – but more than ever I decline the idea of going abroad. – Well goodbye my dearest boy - this has been a long Sunday letter. – I wonder if you ever think of me on your Sundays – or what you do all the day besides reading. –

Sunday - Jan January 22. – After the wettest & wretchedest & soggiest of of weeks that would almost have reconciled you to being hot. – Monday I went to my little Prigs – & had tea at the Clock House after a day’s work. – Tuesday the Ziepels came to stop here two days in hope of making her a little better after the great shock she had had: – Wednesday Frances & Jane & Annie Miers were here also. – & Annie & I went to the squabble at Vale Lodge. – Mr Lovell wrote the essay - as I was too busy to take my turn. It was on Good-natures – not particularly good. – & only 14 squabblers – it being a fog that you might have cut with a knife. – Rather lively games afterwards – & Mr Tomlinson came out as usual nice. – He took Minna & Marian next night to the Kings College soirée. 2000 people - at which they were greatly amused. – I went back with Annie to Temple Lodge - where I stayed mildly in pouring rain till Saturday morning. When I went to see Amy Paten at Kensington - we spent the evening together & she made a very good sketch of me to take home with her. – I got home to tea & Mrs Lovell paid me a long call. – By the bye - lately that Excellent woman for the first time opened upon me in the subject of you – speaking of you in a very affectionate & laudatory manner – saying both she & Mr Lovell had the highest opinion of you – & no possible objection to your marrying Minna except your religion or non-religion – which would always make it quite impossible. – I said you held doctrines very much more like theirs than mine were – but that as Minna apparently did not love you it was idle to discuss the subject & so I dropped it & spoke of something else. – She & I were alone & the conversation didn’t last 3 minutes. – She then went on to explain her griefs – Minna’s excessive reserve - &c - also Marian’s unitarian friends: – & mine. – the old thing, on which she gets perfectly rabid, poor woman. Certainly the ancient Lovells are crochetty to the last degree – but one can always manage them by the grand secret of all things – “letting things alone”. – & I’ll bear anything for Min – who has so very little happiness in her life. – & bears the want of it so bravely. – Today Clarence comes to dinner – and to discuss an offer of Mr Macmillan’s for his making designs. – And tomorrow I go down to Cambridge for a week on business. Mr Macmillan has offered me to be their reader. – at a fixed salary. – & I shall be glad – for I can’t write. – the small articles in Mac’s mag. magazine have

cost me days of headache. – Yet I find to do nothing at all in regular daily work would be equally impossible: idleness worries me as much as work. – So the Macmillan offer comes in admirably – it will only be doing for pay what I do continually in amateur fashion for nothing. – it will give me much influence – & be a settled increasing thing. I like the Macmillans very much – they agree in almost all Sister’s “crotchets”. – he conducts business on a principle so liberal & chivalric it’s quite wonderful – & just like “John” – on “Christian principles” – And strange to say – you might say – it answers - his business grows yearly: will be very great by & by. – And I should like to work with him. – In all I have seen of him – & I have seen a deal since you left, having done much general business with him for other people, as well as being concerned in the affairs of the Mag magazine : – I have learned greatly to respect Mr Macmillan. – as indeed everybody connected with him does – both in a business & private capacity – But no more - I will tell you next Sunday how we have settled it. – Mr Marston’s Vol Volume 1 - Marian likes as much as I do. - it is acally actually very good - & I’m sure Macmillan will have it. - I sent him last week some writings of Bob Paton's - which he was so delighted with that he made him an offer to write a sea-story - which news I sent off to the Cottage - & they were so glad – For poor Bob has come home quite broken in health & fortunes & wholly dependent on Allan – with no chance of going to sea again. – And how Allan is ever to marry I don’t see! – I don’t care what you say about Allan’s being a “perfect fool” – you did once – in the matter of marrying – he is the most generous self-denying “fool” that ever was – And the quiet way he takes Bob’s getting all his praise as an author, while he got little or none – is something perfectly beautiful. – I declare his letter back, with the account of how happy the news made them – & how Maggie “became a Niagara” as usual – made me nearly do the like. – Macmillan has also taken a child’s book of Georgie Craik’s – & she wrote me so delighted. – So I’ve had a deal of pleasure this week in the “priggish” way in which I do take pleasure – looking at it through other folk’s eyes. – Joe Mayall called when I was out & took some music he had lent you & brought back some I had lent him – I was sorry to miss him – but shall write when I come back from Cambridge. – Annie Dowie bids me inform you particularly that she has turn sous – the loveliest

babies ever seen. – named Robert Chambers & James Evander – & she is so very happy with them & as proud as a peacock. – In her letter she says “be sure and tell Ben.” – I got Carry Smith’s wedding cards yesterday. – So the world gos goes goes on - you see. Well, never mind, your turn will come by & by – work away & never fear. – I think with satisfaction that its only 10 days to the mail. – Goodbye my dearest boy. – Sunday. 29. Janr January . – I came back from Cambridge last night – after a pleasant walk – with mornings of work: first we settled our business at once & I buckled to. – Mr Macmillan gives me £100 again – to rise if work rises. – & I am to go through all their light M.S.J. – not mathematical of course! I am sure I can do it easily & it will be a great comfort. He & I agree so well – both intellectually & morally – that we shall work together capitally – I doubt not. – In all the business we got this last week – we found I had metractody come to the same decision they had without telling me beforehand: which was satisfactory on both sides. We also settled the “child’s year-book”. – 12 child’s poems &c – which I write & Clarence illustrates. A first-rate thing for Clarence to get into the Macmillan connection – & he is so pleased. – His designs are capital. W. J. Linton, who engraves, was delighted with them. – Clarence will do:. – genius or no genius - you’ll see. - It was great excitement Friday & Saturday – as Friday was giving the list of degrees. – & a Scottish lad we knew was expected to be Senior Wrangler – which he was: beating the second hallow – difference of marks being 9500 to 4700. – Poor lad – he bore his honors so meekly & yet happily – seeming chiefly to feel how it would delight “my four sisters” – & what a glory it would be to the High school at Aberdeen. – Yesterday the degrees were conferred – such a pretty sight: & such lots of proud mothers & sisters parading about. To see the 2nd Wrangler with his sister on his was a perfect sight – so beaming were they: it made me feel choky – indeed I own to have felt choky more or less all day. I have never quite got out of the feeling which I had once so strongly when you were at the London University – & Demogorgon used to enlarge tofen what you would do at Cambridge – But you never could have stood the grinding – & health is the chief thing. –

Evening. – I could not finish: as I had to go to Church early it being communion Sunday. – I have joined my “conventicle” in that also: – Mr Burns knows quite well how much I differ in some points: but he told me he felt I was “a Christian”– which was all he desired – & asked me to go. In the afternoon Henry Fisk & the Field family called. – Mr Field asked to see your Hampstead Phos Photographs & admired them much – particularly the strawberry plants & the Village. – Miss Montgomery, Miss Blythe, Laura: – Clarence Marian. E. Coates & Mr Marston – ensued – & now all having departed I settle to my letter before going to bed. – Clarence is so pleased about the designs. – He is also trying for a £100 prize – “Idylls of King” – Art – Mason.– Minna came & stayed an hour & had lunch also. – We all go to Mr Marston’s birthday tomorrow. – I have never got the parcel of Phos Photographs – after a few days I wrote Mr Watson: he said he could only furnish us with Mrs Lears’s address. I wrote her – but got no answer. – I have now got a person who knows Upper Clayton to find out if she is still living there, & call at the house: – Which is the only plan I can think of, of tracing the parcel – as you don’t mention the friend’s name – & your sentence leaves it doubtful whether it would be left with said friend’s wife or Mr Lewis’s. – I have puzzled in vain – it has vexed me considerably – not knowing how on earth to track the parcel. – However the last enquiry may result in something. – I hope by next Sunday the mail will be in: – for I am getting very anxious – one always imagines something will have happened etiver whides. – I have expected Springfield today – but he did not appear. – Nor did Fanny & Jane – who promised – they probably forgot all about it. – Now I am so very tired that I must say goodnight & go to bed – God bless you my dearest boy. – Tuesday – I break on my ordinary routine to say that last night Mrs Lewis sent me the Phos. Photographs which are lovely – especially the two Calzadas – the tunnel – & the exquisite bit of bay with two trees standing up – on “middle distance” – the distances altogether are wonderful – everything looks so exquisitely clear: they beat even the best Hampstead Phos. Photographs – What a pleasure they’ll be – when mounted. – I felt like to cry over them last night. –

Sunday Feb February 5th: – Your letter did not come last night – which was very disappointing – as owing to the “dies non” – must wait till tomorrow for it. – I try not to fidget but to hope it will bring good news. – The week has been placid as usual. Monday Mr Marston’s birthday – When he gave your health in a manner neat brief & affectionate – so you were not forgotten. MinnaMarian & I – at dinner – Afterwards Mrs JamesMiss CoatesMiss HerfordClarence & the usual lot. Charades &c. – Everything past as usual every time there ten years. – Minna, Laura, Carry & I came home in Chapman’s fly. – Annie Miers was here on Wednesday – how she did delight in the Brazil Phos Photographs ! – Certainly they are wonderfully good – I seem quite to know every bit of your entourage. – And the little black ghosts amused as us so. – On the whole the sea views are most admired – & the telegraph home with the wood inkind. – Joe Mayall was here & made himself very agreeable from 7.40 to 9.20 one morning – telling me all his doings, John’s & “Mr Mayall’s” in a confedentiale confidential manner. I like him – He & John seem to be doing pretty well – But he says they are going both to write you by this mail – so I will say no more. Springfield also wrote me a long letter – but as you will get one also, I won’t repeat his news either. – Friday Minna Marian Miss Coates & I went with the Mudies to Lobgesang & Dettingen. – C. Novello. Sun's Reeves &c. – oh so lovely! – about the grandest evening as to music I ever remember in Ex. Hall. – But I never feel happy there now, it always frets me so extremely to think that you can’t get it – However you as well as other people must strike the balance of evils. – I’d rather have you out there working bravely than being wretched here – “return with your shield or return upon it.” – at 33 you’ll be quite a young man still. I got a letter from Lizzie, yesterday. Tom has set up for himself as an architect in LiverpoolWill is “as” to £120. – They seem all right & comfortable. – Clarence & Macmillan have settled their matter – he is to illustrate my child’s book – which will come out by midsummer. They like one another. & I hope it may be Clarence’s starting in earning some money – poor boy! – he has had a hard time. – Mr Marston brought his novel complete – for us to read – & actually correct! – which he takes mildly. – It is exceedingly good & Macmillan is sure to have it. It is curious what a deal of good has resulted from my instinctive liking to Mr Macmillan – & his equally sudden liking to me. – One of those odd first sight instincts which are perfectly unaccountable – yet which I trust more & more, the older I grow. – I have done another week’s work as “reader” – & settled several people’s hashes – oh

why will some people turn authors! – Maria Wright was married on Thursday – to Mr Arundel Spens – Bengal Arang” – and Wright wrote me af third affectionate epistle to come & be bridesmaid! – Aunt Alicia & I mean to go & see them some time – it will be funny – won’t it? – I hear of William Wright often from Annie Miers Kensington friend – how good his sermons are, & how he works in his parish. – Dear me – what a curious thing life is. Minna & Marian met Fortune likewise – at Ernmer Catherine’s party the other day. – George Scibiler always benignly inquires for you, I believe. – But I must spend no more paper till my letter comes in tomorrow. – Oh by the by I got a letter from Mr W. Vesper saying where should he send you a cheque from Mrs Gilks? – I said, to me: it will go down in your money which I keep. – Tuesday Feb February 7. – I can hardly say how great a relief & comfort was my letter of yesterday morning. I was busy all day trying to get the things you wanted sent off by this mail – for fear of failure next – & in the evening Spingfield came & stayed till 10.30 – so I couldn’t write till now. – Well, to answer yours! – It is in every way thoroughly satisfactory – especially the private one. You give me all the information I want – my mind is greatly relieved concerning your health. You are doing everything I like & being every thing I want you to be. – In the bedroom –& closet you’re right – don’t stint yourself. – Any money you send out to me just say what I’m to do with it – Funds – Bank deposit – shares or what – You know you ought to be able to get at it with out loss from selling out: it isn't like mine of where I only want the interest. My Phos Photographs are beautiful – they are put into Albert’s book – thy e only way of preserving them as everybody asks to see them. – Mr Lovell has mounted Marian’s Phos Photographs very nicely – but he wished me to tell you that he thinks in the distant views you don’t make the stereoscopic angle wide enough – so as to throw them out stereoscopicals – The near ones – banana leaves &c – he says are beautiful. – I don’t know if I make this clear – he tried hard to make it clear to me – & repeated literally several times what I was to say to you – but I forget the precise words after all. He came in on Sunday & spent a long time over the large Brazil prints. My 3 new ones are the nicest yet – especially the one with the big hill & the sea. – Mr Field was noticing over the Hampstead ones that you seemed to have such an artistic eye to seize the best point of a view: he pointed out this & preached a deal about “balancing” &c. – I should think the Bahia views would do first-rate – & sell here too: – only don’t overwork yourself. – Yesterday, Mrs Aleck Fry (Frank Miers’ sister-in-law) whom in my despair of ever getting the Phos Photographs I asked to

call on Mrs Lewis – came & told me a woeful tale of said Mrs Lewis – she is so poor – nearly starving. Mr Lewis sent her no remembrance last mail, but word that he had been dismissed at a month’s notice by Mr Watson. – Is it so? – Mrs Fry whose compassion was greatly excited, came to ask me what I knew – which was nil. – I said you never mentioned Mr Lewis. The wife – an Station lady, owns that tho’ very clever he is a great spendthrift. – Mrs Fry wanted to write to her husband at Rio to help him, but I persuaded her not – till we knew more: she had much better help the wife: which she will. – Now just tell me in your next – confidentially – what you think of Lewis – is he an honest man or not – & why was he dismissed? – Until then the matter rests: for I have made Mrs Fry see that it won’t do to bother her husband about an unworthy or doubtful character: & I’m sure Mr Watson would not have dismissed him for nothing – He took him out of charity, on the recommendation of some ladies whom Mrs Fry knows. – Springfield is very culing & down: – but means to screw up his courage & settle something today with Easton & Amos – I’ll tell you the last thing – but space & paper is valuable. I am very well, thank you, my dearest boy – eyes quite well, so much business I can but just get through it – and as you will see, very little solitude: not enough to do me the least harm. – I enclose Marian’s note which she brought in before starting on a 3 day’s visit in town. Minna read your public letter – & as she said there was not much about yourself in it – I told her a few things about your good health & so on which you say in the private letter – which however of course I keep entirely to myself. – Indeed nobody has read even your public letters but Minna & Marian & the Aunts: – Oh yes – Annie does – & delights in them exceedingly. She begged me to tell you how much she enjoyed them & the Phos. Photographs – It’s quite pathetic to see how she hangs over the Brazilian views which belonged to the days of her childhood. She comes tomorrow till Friday – when she starts on off to Bath, & thence to Detmore - for a month's absence between my mails. – Somebody observed satisfiably that “all Dinah’s proceedings were – regulated by males” – which you will of course appreciate. Do you make jokes as ever? I’m glad of Wilson turning up – how funny it must seem to talk over Liverpool! – Fanny Martin sends you this introduction: if you like to use it. Mr Nicolay might be a pleasant acquaintance. – Remember you are now in a position that even you needn’t be “proud” about making friends. – Fanny hesitated as to whether you would like the introduction from her – but I said I was sure you would: – so send her a friendly message back – as she had Jane take a most kindly interest in all your concerns. Curtiss, Hannah, Frances & Jane called on Sunday, he is well again. – Jane was fierce against him to me in private: says he is selfish to the core – he grieves Fanny unutterably. – Oh how much have I to be thankful for that you never never so grieved me! –

Tuesday night - I think now your “wants” are “all supplied.” – Mr Macmillan’s nephew who has got me the books – Portuguese - Pho. Photograph Journal – CornhillMacmillan & All Year Round – writes that they will be at Francis’s tonight – Also possibly some cheap mes. Mr Watson says an employ’e will take out everything else – so your umbrella & 3 knives, chirm by Springfield – go to 47 Parliament St tomorrow, I said, the employ’e may open umbrella & use knives which will save duty. – Your cardboard mounts I also ordered Francis to put in his parcel, & send bill to me. – He directs “Mr D. Mulock” – & Mr Watson “Mrs Mulock” – so they must have rather dim ideas about me! – I think, between the Francis packets, & the Employ’e – everything you named will go to you by this mail. – It has been most creditably managed I assure you! Fanny & Jane were here to tea & wished to hear some of your letter & sent kind remembrance. They urged upon me to make a white cover for the umbrella! – but there’s no time. & possibly you would not use it. They say, you need not fear Nicolay: being a fine friend – he is a broken ruined man – with about 15 small children now in England. – You can’t object to his acquaintance. Wednesday. Now to end. Springfield sent umbrella – 13.0 – & maker says, will you should have white cover over it. I’d make it, but no time. Knives G.S says have only 2 blades 3 bladed knives being so small. 31 each – Mappins. – G.S had not time to write – but E. & A. are considering the £200. – & also hint at partnership or business – Mr Watson has put his name down for possible employment. – I hope you will get you things all right. – Min has just been here & waits to go with me to the post. She speaks very affectionately of you – & takes an interest in all belonging to you – but insists that it is only sisterly. – & that in your heart you have only a brotherly affection for her - & not the love that a man should have for his wife. God knows! – I don’t say a word one way or other. – You must just work your way like a brave man – quite independent of anything – & you will find your reward in God’s good time if He pleases. – I can’t say any more than that. – I am so glad you enjoyed your new year’s letter – It ought to be a comfort to you how very happy your letters make Sister. – I think I told you I was quite well. Mary is turning out a very good servant – & her baby thrives & it & Christopher are on the most friendly terms. – I hope at the three years end you will be back at Wildwood – Now if you order Mr Watson to pay me, say at the same time what I shall do with the money – whether you would like it sunk, or put where you can get at it. – or if I shall invest it in your name & my own. I did think of asking Mr Miers what he would think a safe Brazilian investment – I know he has a deal of money invested there – for he was recommending me once, as getting larger interest. – now my dearest boy – God bless you – & go on well & prosperous & don’t have “ghosts” or be afraid of anything – I send 3 “Times”. –

Mr Tomlinson read it – The Squabble afterwards was very amusing & instructive. – Then half the company went up to the wee parlour – where Annie fed them on as much tea coffee cake & bread & butter as ever they could eat – It being “tea & turn-out” – like the Forcano parties – or as Mrs Ziepel put it – “people to have their tea before they come & miss supper after they get home.” – The tea succeeded admirably – the only failure being the “turn-out” – for everybody declined to go – & settled calmly down to games & chat till after eleven – & with great difficulty were “turned out” then. It was universally owned to be the most brilliant squabble yet – & Annie & I were quite proud. She stayed over next day – When I had a tea-party of the BurnsAlison & Minna & Marian – also successful. – Today she left – to write her letters for the mail. – I have sent off your parcel for Mr Sydney Boor – containing TimesLloyd’sCornhillMacmillanAll Year Round – & its Xmas No – Poems – (Marian’s copy as I couldn’t get another in time) & your aunts letters – Detmore letters Mr Boor brings separate, as they came too late for the parcel – Letters all opened – as otherwise there is a penalty of £20 – but I have read none of them. – Mr Boor only offered to take a small parcel – so I thought “something to read” was the best thing to fill it up with. I wanted to send a plum-pudding – but Annie with her usual wisdom suggested that it mightn’t agree with you! – & that there were many other things you might like better – so I compromised with a bit of holly & ivy – which I hope will make you feel cool & Xmas-like. – Everybody sends you kind messages – & today there has been several callers & applications to hear what you say in your letter. – Poor Jane Benson seemed to envy me the comfort I have in you – as well she might confined with Curtiss. – I wrote a line to John Miers at Rio – about Springfield – who was very anxious I should – He knows the firm – they are customers of Easton & Amos. – Probably Springfield will write you – I am so glad you have written to him – Papa says he has sent you some Times – you will have a good handfull handful of literature by this mail –

Your Aunt Eliza’s new years gift to you – £1 – I keep till you say what you would like bought with it. – Now to answer your General letter. – Never mind how photographic they are – it’s all interesting – You have no idea how extremely interesting you make your letters – whatever they are about. – I’m glad you don’t work on Sundays. I’m afraid you want badly a little “cheerful society” – even Miss Blythe might not be unwelcome now!! – Morris you had not named before – I am glad there’s one nice fellow in the lot – It’s a “curious & remarkable fact” that you always take to the nice respectable people! – & they to you. – Annie was saying today when your Detmore letters came – “What a number of good women seem to be fond of Ben.” – & that it was the best secondary evidence of your being good yourself. – She was so delighted with the Phos Photographs – the little ones – which really are exquisite – so clear & perfect. – I am looking forward to the parcel from Mrs Lewis – which has not been heard of yet. – Your picture of the “Coast of Africais fearful! – & I’m afraid the heat tries you very much – & shall be very anxious for the next mail. I hope you take every store against sun-strokes – that’s the dreadful thing, especially with your habit of running out bareheaded – What sort of hat do you wear? – Be sure to say exactly how you have been in health – through the month. I hope the excursion with Mr Ogilvie will have done you no harms – tho’ it is so hot – There’s always the dreadful feeling of suspicion between mail & mail – but one must make up one’s mind to it. – Annie had good news from her people at Rio – her younger brother Frank with his wife & family are coming home by the April or May mail – you must try & manage to run on board & see them if for only ten minutes – that they may bring me word they have seen you. – If either John or Frank Miers are in Bahia they say they shall hunt you out & go & see you – & they sent you by last mail

a warm invitation to go to them at Rio, if you ever had a chance of visiting the place. – I’m afraid you’ll find you have to give up your “Miller of Dee” character – & respond to the general kindliness of the world towards you. – I must now end; it being very late & I very tired. – Goodnight, my dearest boy – I’m grieved to have vexed you so – indeed I did not mean it – you quite mistook nearly all I said – but we won’t waste paper any more. – People ought to be careful of the least approach to “scolding” at the distance of a month & some thousand miles. – it will be a warning to me henceforth. Saturday – 7th Jan January – I’ve just been in to fetch & re-read your letter to Marian. They were delighted with the Phos Photographs – which indeed are lovely – & give a complete idea of your surroundings. – I hardly know which I like best – except perhaps the well-house, the coco-nut palm – the Calcada – & the railway cutting. – What beautiful vegetation – There must be many nice things about Bahia – if it were not so awfully hot & so dull – but you may get to know more people & hiser by & by – I suppose Curtiss has put the Nicolay’s out of Fanny’s head – as she has not sent me the introduction & I can’t teaze tease her about it now – or possibly they have left Bahia. – What about the Emperor? We heard he paid a visit to your line – & I thought of your black clothes! for you would probably be among the officials who had to receive him – Tell all about it in your next & whether he asked you to dinner & sat for his Pho Photograph ! – I believe he is a very nice intelligent young man – & particularly fond of English people. How lovely the fireflies must be. – But the “feeding” can’t be very nice with bread bad & milk nowhere – & indefinite tea. – Ah Ben. I know well you must have lots of annoyances – but you didn’t go for pleasure – so keep up & make the best of things. – Write me all your troubles: & always let me have a private letter – it is but fair & right. – Miss Coates is much pleased that her case is so effective. Marian bids me say she will write you a good long letter by next mail. – I will keep my letter open till the last minute to see if the parcel comes – but it has not as yet – so in my case I can only acknowledge it & defer criticism till Sunday. – It’s a great pleasure having nice Phos Photographs . – The portrait of you among Bananas is rather grim – but still not bad. – Send a large

portrait, the first you take – that we may see if you are altered. The delicacy of these prints is wonderful – such as the distance in the view across the bay & in the well-house one – but the trees seem to stir dreadfully. – No 11 with your house at the corner I like very much, though less than No 12. – What an awful “civilized” place though. – I’m afraid you’re out of the frying-pan into the fire: – except for the sea. Do you ever bathe? No sharks I hope. – I suppose you get baths in plenty of fresh water at the well-house – but salt water might be better. – I shall just leave this bit on the chance of the parcel: otherwise I have said I think all that is to be said. – Afternoon – So now I must seal & post my letter – with the parcel never come, but doubtless will – I have put my P.S. outside – that you may not miss Mr Sydney Boor. – & I hope the parcel by then will reach you safe – You will find the arnica plaster in the Aunts’ letter. – – Here I was interrupted by the apparition of Dr & Mrs Storrar – who you may remember as belonging to the Marstons parties of long ago: friends of Mrs Crowe. – They also are come to live at Hampstead. – The Pond St railway is open: a big station & grand. Annie went home by it. It is so convenient for Richmond that Fanny & Jane are likely permanently to settle near– – Today is lovely but very sharp & frosty – I wish I could send you a bit of cold weather – & yet you mightn’t like it if you had it. – I have fallen into work again of a mild fever – extracts for Macmillan – & a book of children’s poetry – which will probably go to Macmillan also. – & which I want Clarence to illustrate. Clarence returns to London on Monday next – He said he was going to write you by this mail – but I think he has been busy & put it off till next. – I got a Xmas letter from Lizzie – she is better – but hint has had me of her bad attacks of spasms – ill 3 weeks. – The rest well. – I have seen nothing of Harvey Smith – nor have the Blythes. You are constantly talked about & ask after by Hampstead generally – & everybody takes an interest in the news of you. You are decidedly a Hero in a small way to Hampstead. – if that’s any satisfaction to you– – God bless you – my dearest boy – I can’t say any more –

Ever your affectionate Sister

1 Short for dies non juridicus, dies non is a day where no legal business is transacted, or which is not reckoned in counting days for some particular purpose. "dies, n.b." OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2020, www.oed.com/view/Entry/52417. 2 The "Miller of Dee" was a character in an English song who was flagrantly self-sufficient who did not need anybody and therefore did not need to care about others. Dinah is indicating that Ben Mulock has a reluctance and wariness to making new friends through this metaphor. "Love in a Village." Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable. Eds. McMahon, Sean, and Jo O'Donoghue. : Chambers Harrap Publishers, , 2011. Oxford Reference. https://www-oxfordreference-com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/view/10.1093/acref/9780199916191.001.0001/acref-9780199916191-e-3214.

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Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, January 8 1860 Dinah Mulock Craik Karen Bourrier Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of Calgary Karen Bourrier Transcription August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of transcription September 2020 by Sonia Jarmula TEI encoding August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of TEI encoding September 2020 by Sonia Jarmula First digital edition in TEI, date: August 2020. P5. Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2020

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Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of California at Los Angeles Charles E. Young Research Library Mulock Family Papers 846 Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, January 8 1860 Box 1, Folder 8

Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded.

[1860] Sunday – 8th Jan. January

It seems rather amusing to begin another letter seeing I only posted my last yesterday! – but I don’t like to break the rule of writing to you every Sunday morning. It’s hardly possible to make you understand how badly I want you on Sundays – & many others time – & how nothing but the conviction that you never would be happy with me & never were – & you perhaps are happy knocking about alone, reconciles me to things as they are. – The Ziepels had the benefit of your news & Phos photographs that night – with which they were greatly delighted – & considerably amused at your idea of your letters being “not interesting.” – he was much impressed with the awful heat you must live in – indeed I, non-meteorological, hadn’t noticed how very hot it must be – almost as bad as a permanent Begert St. – I doubt if you will ever stand it – if so you must come home & try Photography elsewhere. I see one Photographer firm has likely sent a man out of to Japan – so doubtless you would have little difficulty on getting out somewhere else. – I don’t mind yours! being dull – without society – & hard-worked – everybody in every portion must have something to bear: – but I mind very much any risk of health. You must not do it. Don’t go on the water – it’s by the sea they get yellow fever. – Your not having boils reflects that they have disappeared & you being 2 lb fatter is a good thing. – I hope you will always state clearly how you are in health: – but I can’t help feeling very anxious. – Laura - Mrs Herford & Marian & Mr Marston will be the Sunday collection today I think. – I wish I knew where to send for your parcel – for it has never come. probably Mrs Lewis is busy waiting for her mail. – Well I’ll not waste paper any more – having of course no news. – Sunday morning Jan January 15. – after a rather full & busy week. – I have been ilrc at work over an Essay that you will find in the Feb. February Macmillan. so need say no more about it. – Tuesday. I alas at tea at the Clock House to meet Laura’s brother William – schoolmaster from Lancaster – rather a nice individual. – there I heard that poor Mrs Ziepel that morning had got news that her mother had been dead a week: the poor old lady died alone - all her children away. – & nobody let the Ziepels know till all was over – not even that she was ill. Mrs Ziepel’s grief was some-

thing dreadful. – Wednesday I went with Gothic Cottage to a party at the Englishwomen’s Journal – & catch me going to another party anywhere! though it was over at 10 P.M. Such a black hole of Calcutta I never knew. About 500 people crammed in two rooms. – a few “strong-minded” – with waistcoats, cravats & short hair – but the general lot one’s usual acquaintance. They invited 450. Carry having 450 “friends.” – Marian & Laura Herford seemed greatly amused – but for my part I couldn’t stand it & was thankful to get home. – On Thursday I had Amy Paten spending the day at Wildwood. She is visiting the Ferguses here – & Joe charged her to find me out – It is curious how people come back to one, full of love & kindness – if one only has patience to wait. – Few things have been more pleasant to me than Amy coming to me again – & pouring out all her troubles for these 10 years. – Her father married again – turned men all adrift & Joe took them in. – & Amy & Walter have lived with him ever since. Also his brother-in-law Mr Rosburgh failed – & his has kept them too. – So good & true as he has turned out – such a faithful brother, such a loving husband & father – it does one’s heart good to think of it. – They want me to come & spend part of the summer with them at some quiet seaside place – & help in spoiling the baby: – which probably I should – a trifle! – but I doubt if I shall go. There is another baby coming in June – I suppose you can hardly understand the sort of feeling I have towards Joe’s children. – Friday I did an awful exploit – went with the Mudie’s to hear Samson It would have been nice – if I could have got you out of my head – which I couldn’t: – it seemed so hard you could not enjoy it. – Sun’s Reeves Total eclipse was exquisite – so was "Round about the Starry thone" - & "Fixed." – though my enjoyment of the latter was rather stopped by Mr Mudie whispering “Look at the Queen.” – who was such extraordinary individual, walking with a fierce resolution, & throwing him back in the intervals of the “thunder's roar." – as if he felt the whole weight of the chorus risked on the Queen – that I went into fits of laughing – inwardly. –

The last chorus was very fine. – also “Let the Bright Seraphim” with Harpes obligate trumpet – Mudie’s keen enjoyment – honest little man – was quite pleasant. They have gone regularly to Exeter Hall for about 30 years. He has 20 tickets for every concert – which he distributes among friends – & clerks – had 5 clerks there that night. – He said to me pointing to a bearded gentlemanly young man who sat near with his wife & sister – “Did you ever see him before? – He was my errand-boy in King St. – Honest Mudie – ah Ben you wronged him when you scouted his attentions because he was a “fine” friend. – He does a world of good with both his money & his influence – & they are as simple and kindly a family as can be. I slept there – & went after breakfast to spend the day with Amy Paten at Brompton – coming home in time for Minna who was here to tea – also Mr Marston & Nelly. – Mr Marston brought me Vol Volume 1 of his novel complete – Minna stopped till 10.P.M. – When May took her safe home. I think I enjoy Minna’s company more than ever – she is so very much softened down, & less irritable – & so extremely good & kind to me individually. She hardly ever gives me a sharp word. – She wants badly to go to the next Exeter Hall – & as Mr Mudie had asked after her particularly as “that pleasant young lady” when he had taken house for the Marstons – We agreed that I should go the length of asking him for two out of the 20 tickets & we would do the Lobgesang & Dettingen – somehow: together. – I feel somehow that it’s sore to tell you these things – considering your dull evenings: but it’s only temporary – be patient & work away - & you may yet be a prosperous man at home – with possibility of concerts & everything else. – Everybody must have their uphill season before they can get to the top of the tree – though yours has lasted a long, long time: – but I don’t think it will last for ever. – I had a letter from Cousin Lizzie lately where she says that a girl she knows, met another girl at Limerick

Ireland – whose brother out in Bahia – wrote home that they had had “a very pleasant addition to their party – a Mr Ben Mulock – an exceedingly agreeable young man!” – Who on earth is this brother – name I don’t know. – But you see the world is so small – do what you will you can’t escape from “friends”. – It is such a pouring wet Sunday that I can’t get to Church – so shall probably go in for a chat with Marian till dinner-time – & then go & see poor Mrs Ziepel & petition them to tea if they will come. – You see I manage to make Wildwood if not a Reformatory – a “haven” as Mrs Herford calls it – By the by, last Sunday’s collection was full – Mrs Herford LauraMarianMr Marston & Harvey Smith. – Marian & Harvey shook hands & behaved quite friendly – Poor Harvey – he’s a nice nice fellow. – Carry is to be married next month – & then Hatton-garden breaks up & they think of living at Sydenham. – There was a tremendous hard “talk” all evening – a sort of recapitulation of the late “squabble” – the subject "truth" has been squabbled over on intervals ever since – Harvey said energetically when he left that “he had spent a glorious evening!” – I feel a priggish pleasure in these Sunday Collections, which make a nice evening for so many “strays”. – also in the thought that old maid as I am – & solitary as Wildwood is – it isn’t a dreary house & every body seems glad to come to it. – Amy thought it such a pretty & pleasant house – She wants to go to Rome & study modelling - that she may make herself independent – but Joe is fierce & won’t hear of it – She asked me which I thought was right & I said she was. – for Joe may have a dozen children yet. & she would be much better and happier carving her own living. – & she’s so clever that she could do it easily. – She wants me to go with her to Rome next September & writer there!! – but more than ever I decline the idea of going abroad. – Well goodbye my dearest boy - this has been a long Sunday letter. – I wonder if you ever think of me on your Sundays – or what you do all the day besides reading. –

Sunday - Jan January 22. – After the wettest & wretchedest & soggiest of of weeks that would almost have reconciled you to being hot. – Monday I went to my little Prigs – & had tea at the Clock House after a day’s work. – Tuesday the Ziepels came to stop here two days in hope of making her a little better after the great shock she had had: – Wednesday Frances & Jane & Annie Miers were here also. – & Annie & I went to the squabble at Vale Lodge. – Mr Lovell wrote the essay - as I was too busy to take my turn. It was on Good-natures – not particularly good. – & only 14 squabblers – it being a fog that you might have cut with a knife. – Rather lively games afterwards – & Mr Tomlinson came out as usual nice. – He took Minna & Marian next night to the Kings College soirée. 2000 people - at which they were greatly amused. – I went back with Annie to Temple Lodge - where I stayed mildly in pouring rain till Saturday morning. When I went to see Amy Paten at Kensington - we spent the evening together & she made a very good sketch of me to take home with her. – I got home to tea & Mrs Lovell paid me a long call. – By the bye - lately that Excellent woman for the first time opened upon me in the subject of you – speaking of you in a very affectionate & laudatory manner – saying both she & Mr Lovell had the highest opinion of you – & no possible objection to your marrying Minna except your religion or non-religion – which would always make it quite impossible. – I said you held doctrines very much more like theirs than mine were – but that as Minna apparently did not love you it was idle to discuss the subject & so I dropped it & spoke of something else. – She & I were alone & the conversation didn’t last 3 minutes. – She then went on to explain her griefs – Minna’s excessive reserve - &c - also Marian’s unitarian friends: – & mine. – the old thing, on which she gets perfectly rabid, poor woman. Certainly the ancient Lovells are crochetty to the last degree – but one can always manage them by the grand secret of all things – “letting things alone”. – & I’ll bear anything for Min – who has so very little happiness in her life. – & bears the want of it so bravely. – Today Clarence comes to dinner – and to discuss an offer of Mr Macmillan’s for his making designs. – And tomorrow I go down to Cambridge for a week on business. Mr Macmillan has offered me to be their reader. – at a fixed salary. – & I shall be glad – for I can’t write. – the small articles in Mac’s mag. magazine have

cost me days of headache. – Yet I find to do nothing at all in regular daily work would be equally impossible: idleness worries me as much as work. – So the Macmillan offer comes in admirably – it will only be doing for pay what I do continually in amateur fashion for nothing. – it will give me much influence – & be a settled increasing thing. I like the Macmillans very much – they agree in almost all Sister’s “crotchets”. – he conducts business on a principle so liberal & chivalric it’s quite wonderful – & just like “John” – on “Christian principles” – And strange to say – you might say – it answers - his business grows yearly: will be very great by & by. – And I should like to work with him. – In all I have seen of him – & I have seen a deal since you left, having done much general business with him for other people, as well as being concerned in the affairs of the Mag magazine : – I have learned greatly to respect Mr Macmillan. – as indeed everybody connected with him does – both in a business & private capacity – But no more - I will tell you next Sunday how we have settled it. – Mr Marston’s Vol Volume 1 - Marian likes as much as I do. - it is acally actually very good - & I’m sure Macmillan will have it. - I sent him last week some writings of Bob Paton's - which he was so delighted with that he made him an offer to write a sea-story - which news I sent off to the Cottage - & they were so glad – For poor Bob has come home quite broken in health & fortunes & wholly dependent on Allan – with no chance of going to sea again. – And how Allan is ever to marry I don’t see! – I don’t care what you say about Allan’s being a “perfect fool” – you did once – in the matter of marrying – he is the most generous self-denying “fool” that ever was – And the quiet way he takes Bob’s getting all his praise as an author, while he got little or none – is something perfectly beautiful. – I declare his letter back, with the account of how happy the news made them – & how Maggie “became a Niagara” as usual – made me nearly do the like. – Macmillan has also taken a child’s book of Georgie Craik’s – & she wrote me so delighted. – So I’ve had a deal of pleasure this week in the “priggish” way in which I do take pleasure – looking at it through other folk’s eyes. – Joe Mayall called when I was out & took some music he had lent you & brought back some I had lent him – I was sorry to miss him – but shall write when I come back from Cambridge. – Annie Dowie bids me inform you particularly that she has turn sous – the loveliest

babies ever seen. – named Robert Chambers & James Evander – & she is so very happy with them & as proud as a peacock. – In her letter she says “be sure and tell Ben.” – I got Carry Smith’s wedding cards yesterday. – So the world gos goes goes on - you see. Well, never mind, your turn will come by & by – work away & never fear. – I think with satisfaction that its only 10 days to the mail. – Goodbye my dearest boy. – Sunday. 29. Janr January . – I came back from Cambridge last night – after a pleasant walk – with mornings of work: first we settled our business at once & I buckled to. – Mr Macmillan gives me £100 again – to rise if work rises. – & I am to go through all their light M.S.J. – not mathematical of course! I am sure I can do it easily & it will be a great comfort. He & I agree so well – both intellectually & morally – that we shall work together capitally – I doubt not. – In all the business we got this last week – we found I had metractody come to the same decision they had without telling me beforehand: which was satisfactory on both sides. We also settled the “child’s year-book”. – 12 child’s poems &c – which I write & Clarence illustrates. A first-rate thing for Clarence to get into the Macmillan connection – & he is so pleased. – His designs are capital. W. J. Linton, who engraves, was delighted with them. – Clarence will do:. – genius or no genius - you’ll see. - It was great excitement Friday & Saturday – as Friday was giving the list of degrees. – & a Scottish lad we knew was expected to be Senior Wrangler – which he was: beating the second hallow – difference of marks being 9500 to 4700. – Poor lad – he bore his honors so meekly & yet happily – seeming chiefly to feel how it would delight “my four sisters” – & what a glory it would be to the High school at Aberdeen. – Yesterday the degrees were conferred – such a pretty sight: & such lots of proud mothers & sisters parading about. To see the 2nd Wrangler with his sister on his was a perfect sight – so beaming were they: it made me feel choky – indeed I own to have felt choky more or less all day. I have never quite got out of the feeling which I had once so strongly when you were at the London University – & Demogorgon used to enlarge tofen what you would do at Cambridge – But you never could have stood the grinding – & health is the chief thing. –

Evening. – I could not finish: as I had to go to Church early it being communion Sunday. – I have joined my “conventicle” in that also: – Mr Burns knows quite well how much I differ in some points: but he told me he felt I was “a Christian”– which was all he desired – & asked me to go. In the afternoon Henry Fisk & the Field family called. – Mr Field asked to see your Hampstead Phos Photographs & admired them much – particularly the strawberry plants & the Village. – Miss Montgomery, Miss Blythe, Laura: – Clarence Marian. E. Coates & Mr Marston – ensued – & now all having departed I settle to my letter before going to bed. – Clarence is so pleased about the designs. – He is also trying for a £100 prize – “Idylls of King” – Art – Mason.– Minna came & stayed an hour & had lunch also. – We all go to Mr Marston’s birthday tomorrow. – I have never got the parcel of Phos Photographs – after a few days I wrote Mr Watson: he said he could only furnish us with Mrs Lears’s address. I wrote her – but got no answer. – I have now got a person who knows Upper Clayton to find out if she is still living there, & call at the house: – Which is the only plan I can think of, of tracing the parcel – as you don’t mention the friend’s name – & your sentence leaves it doubtful whether it would be left with said friend’s wife or Mr Lewis’s. – I have puzzled in vain – it has vexed me considerably – not knowing how on earth to track the parcel. – However the last enquiry may result in something. – I hope by next Sunday the mail will be in: – for I am getting very anxious – one always imagines something will have happened etiver whides. – I have expected Springfield today – but he did not appear. – Nor did Fanny & Jane – who promised – they probably forgot all about it. – Now I am so very tired that I must say goodnight & go to bed – God bless you my dearest boy. – Tuesday – I break on my ordinary routine to say that last night Mrs Lewis sent me the Phos. Photographs which are lovely – especially the two Calzadas – the tunnel – & the exquisite bit of bay with two trees standing up – on “middle distance” – the distances altogether are wonderful – everything looks so exquisitely clear: they beat even the best Hampstead Phos. Photographs – What a pleasure they’ll be – when mounted. – I felt like to cry over them last night. –

Sunday Feb February 5th: – Your letter did not come last night – which was very disappointing – as owing to the “dies non” – must wait till tomorrow for it. – I try not to fidget but to hope it will bring good news. – The week has been placid as usual. Monday Mr Marston’s birthday – When he gave your health in a manner neat brief & affectionate – so you were not forgotten. MinnaMarian & I – at dinner – Afterwards Mrs JamesMiss CoatesMiss HerfordClarence & the usual lot. Charades &c. – Everything past as usual every time there ten years. – Minna, Laura, Carry & I came home in Chapman’s fly. – Annie Miers was here on Wednesday – how she did delight in the Brazil Phos Photographs ! – Certainly they are wonderfully good – I seem quite to know every bit of your entourage. – And the little black ghosts amused as us so. – On the whole the sea views are most admired – & the telegraph home with the wood inkind. – Joe Mayall was here & made himself very agreeable from 7.40 to 9.20 one morning – telling me all his doings, John’s & “Mr Mayall’s” in a confedentiale confidential manner. I like him – He & John seem to be doing pretty well – But he says they are going both to write you by this mail – so I will say no more. Springfield also wrote me a long letter – but as you will get one also, I won’t repeat his news either. – Friday Minna Marian Miss Coates & I went with the Mudies to Lobgesang & Dettingen. – C. Novello. Sun's Reeves &c. – oh so lovely! – about the grandest evening as to music I ever remember in Ex. Hall. – But I never feel happy there now, it always frets me so extremely to think that you can’t get it – However you as well as other people must strike the balance of evils. – I’d rather have you out there working bravely than being wretched here – “return with your shield or return upon it.” – at 33 you’ll be quite a young man still. I got a letter from Lizzie, yesterday. Tom has set up for himself as an architect in LiverpoolWill is “as” to £120. – They seem all right & comfortable. – Clarence & Macmillan have settled their matter – he is to illustrate my child’s book – which will come out by midsummer. They like one another. & I hope it may be Clarence’s starting in earning some money – poor boy! – he has had a hard time. – Mr Marston brought his novel complete – for us to read – & actually correct! – which he takes mildly. – It is exceedingly good & Macmillan is sure to have it. It is curious what a deal of good has resulted from my instinctive liking to Mr Macmillan – & his equally sudden liking to me. – One of those odd first sight instincts which are perfectly unaccountable – yet which I trust more & more, the older I grow. – I have done another week’s work as “reader” – & settled several people’s hashes – oh

why will some people turn authors! – Maria Wright was married on Thursday – to Mr Arundel Spens – Bengal Arang” – and Wright wrote me af third affectionate epistle to come & be bridesmaid! – Aunt Alicia & I mean to go & see them some time – it will be funny – won’t it? – I hear of William Wright often from Annie Miers Kensington friend – how good his sermons are, & how he works in his parish. – Dear me – what a curious thing life is. Minna & Marian met Fortune likewise – at Ernmer Catherine’s party the other day. – George Scibiler always benignly inquires for you, I believe. – But I must spend no more paper till my letter comes in tomorrow. – Oh by the by I got a letter from Mr W. Vesper saying where should he send you a cheque from Mrs Gilks? – I said, to me: it will go down in your money which I keep. – Tuesday Feb February 7. – I can hardly say how great a relief & comfort was my letter of yesterday morning. I was busy all day trying to get the things you wanted sent off by this mail – for fear of failure next – & in the evening Spingfield came & stayed till 10.30 – so I couldn’t write till now. – Well, to answer yours! – It is in every way thoroughly satisfactory – especially the private one. You give me all the information I want – my mind is greatly relieved concerning your health. You are doing everything I like & being every thing I want you to be. – In the bedroom –& closet you’re right – don’t stint yourself. – Any money you send out to me just say what I’m to do with it – Funds – Bank deposit – shares or what – You know you ought to be able to get at it with out loss from selling out: it isn't like mine of where I only want the interest. My Phos Photographs are beautiful – they are put into Albert’s book – thy e only way of preserving them as everybody asks to see them. – Mr Lovell has mounted Marian’s Phos Photographs very nicely – but he wished me to tell you that he thinks in the distant views you don’t make the stereoscopic angle wide enough – so as to throw them out stereoscopicals – The near ones – banana leaves &c – he says are beautiful. – I don’t know if I make this clear – he tried hard to make it clear to me – & repeated literally several times what I was to say to you – but I forget the precise words after all. He came in on Sunday & spent a long time over the large Brazil prints. My 3 new ones are the nicest yet – especially the one with the big hill & the sea. – Mr Field was noticing over the Hampstead ones that you seemed to have such an artistic eye to seize the best point of a view: he pointed out this & preached a deal about “balancing” &c. – I should think the Bahia views would do first-rate – & sell here too: – only don’t overwork yourself. – Yesterday, Mrs Aleck Fry (Frank Miers’ sister-in-law) whom in my despair of ever getting the Phos Photographs I asked to

call on Mrs Lewis – came & told me a woeful tale of said Mrs Lewis – she is so poor – nearly starving. Mr Lewis sent her no remembrance last mail, but word that he had been dismissed at a month’s notice by Mr Watson. – Is it so? – Mrs Fry whose compassion was greatly excited, came to ask me what I knew – which was nil. – I said you never mentioned Mr Lewis. The wife – an Station lady, owns that tho’ very clever he is a great spendthrift. – Mrs Fry wanted to write to her husband at Rio to help him, but I persuaded her not – till we knew more: she had much better help the wife: which she will. – Now just tell me in your next – confidentially – what you think of Lewis – is he an honest man or not – & why was he dismissed? – Until then the matter rests: for I have made Mrs Fry see that it won’t do to bother her husband about an unworthy or doubtful character: & I’m sure Mr Watson would not have dismissed him for nothing – He took him out of charity, on the recommendation of some ladies whom Mrs Fry knows. – Springfield is very culing & down: – but means to screw up his courage & settle something today with Easton & Amos – I’ll tell you the last thing – but space & paper is valuable. I am very well, thank you, my dearest boy – eyes quite well, so much business I can but just get through it – and as you will see, very little solitude: not enough to do me the least harm. – I enclose Marian’s note which she brought in before starting on a 3 day’s visit in town. Minna read your public letter – & as she said there was not much about yourself in it – I told her a few things about your good health & so on which you say in the private letter – which however of course I keep entirely to myself. – Indeed nobody has read even your public letters but Minna & Marian & the Aunts: – Oh yes – Annie does – & delights in them exceedingly. She begged me to tell you how much she enjoyed them & the Phos. Photographs – It’s quite pathetic to see how she hangs over the Brazilian views which belonged to the days of her childhood. She comes tomorrow till Friday – when she starts on off to Bath, & thence to Detmore - for a month's absence between my mails. – Somebody observed satisfiably that “all Dinah’s proceedings were – regulated by males” – which you will of course appreciate. Do you make jokes as ever? I’m glad of Wilson turning up – how funny it must seem to talk over Liverpool! – Fanny Martin sends you this introduction: if you like to use it. Mr Nicolay might be a pleasant acquaintance. – Remember you are now in a position that even you needn’t be “proud” about making friends. – Fanny hesitated as to whether you would like the introduction from her – but I said I was sure you would: – so send her a friendly message back – as she had Jane take a most kindly interest in all your concerns. Curtiss, Hannah, Frances & Jane called on Sunday, he is well again. – Jane was fierce against him to me in private: says he is selfish to the core – he grieves Fanny unutterably. – Oh how much have I to be thankful for that you never never so grieved me! –

Tuesday night - I think now your “wants” are “all supplied.” – Mr Macmillan’s nephew who has got me the books – Portuguese - Pho. Photograph Journal – CornhillMacmillan & All Year Round – writes that they will be at Francis’s tonight – Also possibly some cheap mes. Mr Watson says an employ’e will take out everything else – so your umbrella & 3 knives, chirm by Springfield – go to 47 Parliament St tomorrow, I said, the employ’e may open umbrella & use knives which will save duty. – Your cardboard mounts I also ordered Francis to put in his parcel, & send bill to me. – He directs “Mr D. Mulock” – & Mr Watson “Mrs Mulock” – so they must have rather dim ideas about me! – I think, between the Francis packets, & the Employ’e – everything you named will go to you by this mail. – It has been most creditably managed I assure you! Fanny & Jane were here to tea & wished to hear some of your letter & sent kind remembrance. They urged upon me to make a white cover for the umbrella! – but there’s no time. & possibly you would not use it. They say, you need not fear Nicolay: being a fine friend – he is a broken ruined man – with about 15 small children now in England. – You can’t object to his acquaintance. Wednesday. Now to end. Springfield sent umbrella – 13.0 – & maker says, will you should have white cover over it. I’d make it, but no time. Knives G.S says have only 2 blades 3 bladed knives being so small. 31 each – Mappins. – G.S had not time to write – but E. & A. are considering the £200. – & also hint at partnership or business – Mr Watson has put his name down for possible employment. – I hope you will get you things all right. – Min has just been here & waits to go with me to the post. She speaks very affectionately of you – & takes an interest in all belonging to you – but insists that it is only sisterly. – & that in your heart you have only a brotherly affection for her - & not the love that a man should have for his wife. God knows! – I don’t say a word one way or other. – You must just work your way like a brave man – quite independent of anything – & you will find your reward in God’s good time if He pleases. – I can’t say any more than that. – I am so glad you enjoyed your new year’s letter – It ought to be a comfort to you how very happy your letters make Sister. – I think I told you I was quite well. Mary is turning out a very good servant – & her baby thrives & it & Christopher are on the most friendly terms. – I hope at the three years end you will be back at Wildwood – Now if you order Mr Watson to pay me, say at the same time what I shall do with the money – whether you would like it sunk, or put where you can get at it. – or if I shall invest it in your name & my own. I did think of asking Mr Miers what he would think a safe Brazilian investment – I know he has a deal of money invested there – for he was recommending me once, as getting larger interest. – now my dearest boy – God bless you – & go on well & prosperous & don’t have “ghosts” or be afraid of anything – I send 3 “Times”. –

Mr Tomlinson read it – The Squabble afterwards was very amusing & instructive. – Then half the company went up to the wee parlour – where Annie fed them on as much tea coffee cake & bread & butter as ever they could eat – It being “tea & turn-out” – like the Forcano parties – or as Mrs Ziepel put it – “people to have their tea before they come & miss supper after they get home.” – The tea succeeded admirably – the only failure being the “turn-out” – for everybody declined to go – & settled calmly down to games & chat till after eleven – & with great difficulty were “turned out” then. It was universally owned to be the most brilliant squabble yet – & Annie & I were quite proud. She stayed over next day – When I had a tea-party of the BurnsAlison & Minna & Marian – also successful. – Today she left – to write her letters for the mail. – I have sent off your parcel for Mr Sydney Boor – containing TimesLloyd’sCornhillMacmillanAll Year Round – & its Xmas No – Poems – (Marian’s copy as I couldn’t get another in time) & your aunts letters – Detmore letters Mr Boor brings separate, as they came too late for the parcel – Letters all opened – as otherwise there is a penalty of £20 – but I have read none of them. – Mr Boor only offered to take a small parcel – so I thought “something to read” was the best thing to fill it up with. I wanted to send a plum-pudding – but Annie with her usual wisdom suggested that it mightn’t agree with you! – & that there were many other things you might like better – so I compromised with a bit of holly & ivy – which I hope will make you feel cool & Xmas-like. – Everybody sends you kind messages – & today there has been several callers & applications to hear what you say in your letter. – Poor Jane Benson seemed to envy me the comfort I have in you – as well she might confined with Curtiss. – I wrote a line to John Miers at Rio – about Springfield – who was very anxious I should – He knows the firm – they are customers of Easton & Amos. – Probably Springfield will write you – I am so glad you have written to him – Papa says he has sent you some Times – you will have a good handfull handful of literature by this mail –

Your Aunt Eliza’s new years gift to you – £1 – I keep till you say what you would like bought with it. – Now to answer your General letter. – Never mind how photographic they are – it’s all interesting – You have no idea how extremely interesting you make your letters – whatever they are about. – I’m glad you don’t work on Sundays. I’m afraid you want badly a little “cheerful society” – even Miss Blythe might not be unwelcome now!! – Morris you had not named before – I am glad there’s one nice fellow in the lot – It’s a “curious & remarkable fact” that you always take to the nice respectable people! – & they to you. – Annie was saying today when your Detmore letters came – “What a number of good women seem to be fond of Ben.” – & that it was the best secondary evidence of your being good yourself. – She was so delighted with the Phos Photographs – the little ones – which really are exquisite – so clear & perfect. – I am looking forward to the parcel from Mrs Lewis – which has not been heard of yet. – Your picture of the “Coast of Africais fearful! – & I’m afraid the heat tries you very much – & shall be very anxious for the next mail. I hope you take every store against sun-strokes – that’s the dreadful thing, especially with your habit of running out bareheaded – What sort of hat do you wear? – Be sure to say exactly how you have been in health – through the month. I hope the excursion with Mr Ogilvie will have done you no harms – tho’ it is so hot – There’s always the dreadful feeling of suspicion between mail & mail – but one must make up one’s mind to it. – Annie had good news from her people at Rio – her younger brother Frank with his wife & family are coming home by the April or May mail – you must try & manage to run on board & see them if for only ten minutes – that they may bring me word they have seen you. – If either John or Frank Miers are in Bahia they say they shall hunt you out & go & see you – & they sent you by last mail

a warm invitation to go to them at Rio, if you ever had a chance of visiting the place. – I’m afraid you’ll find you have to give up your “Miller of Dee” character – & respond to the general kindliness of the world towards you. – I must now end; it being very late & I very tired. – Goodnight, my dearest boy – I’m grieved to have vexed you so – indeed I did not mean it – you quite mistook nearly all I said – but we won’t waste paper any more. – People ought to be careful of the least approach to “scolding” at the distance of a month & some thousand miles. – it will be a warning to me henceforth. Saturday – 7th Jan January – I’ve just been in to fetch & re-read your letter to Marian. They were delighted with the Phos Photographs – which indeed are lovely – & give a complete idea of your surroundings. – I hardly know which I like best – except perhaps the well-house, the coco-nut palm – the Calcada – & the railway cutting. – What beautiful vegetation – There must be many nice things about Bahia – if it were not so awfully hot & so dull – but you may get to know more people & hiser by & by – I suppose Curtiss has put the Nicolay’s out of Fanny’s head – as she has not sent me the introduction & I can’t teaze tease her about it now – or possibly they have left Bahia. – What about the Emperor? We heard he paid a visit to your line – & I thought of your black clothes! for you would probably be among the officials who had to receive him – Tell all about it in your next & whether he asked you to dinner & sat for his Pho Photograph ! – I believe he is a very nice intelligent young man – & particularly fond of English people. How lovely the fireflies must be. – But the “feeding” can’t be very nice with bread bad & milk nowhere – & indefinite tea. – Ah Ben. I know well you must have lots of annoyances – but you didn’t go for pleasure – so keep up & make the best of things. – Write me all your troubles: & always let me have a private letter – it is but fair & right. – Miss Coates is much pleased that her case is so effective. Marian bids me say she will write you a good long letter by next mail. – I will keep my letter open till the last minute to see if the parcel comes – but it has not as yet – so in my case I can only acknowledge it & defer criticism till Sunday. – It’s a great pleasure having nice Phos Photographs . – The portrait of you among Bananas is rather grim – but still not bad. – Send a large

portrait, the first you take – that we may see if you are altered. The delicacy of these prints is wonderful – such as the distance in the view across the bay & in the well-house one – but the trees seem to stir dreadfully. – No 11 with your house at the corner I like very much, though less than No 12. – What an awful “civilized” place though. – I’m afraid you’re out of the frying-pan into the fire: – except for the sea. Do you ever bathe? No sharks I hope. – I suppose you get baths in plenty of fresh water at the well-house – but salt water might be better. – I shall just leave this bit on the chance of the parcel: otherwise I have said I think all that is to be said. – Afternoon – So now I must seal & post my letter – with the parcel never come, but doubtless will – I have put my P.S. outside – that you may not miss Mr Sydney Boor. – & I hope the parcel by then will reach you safe – You will find the arnica plaster in the Aunts’ letter. – – Here I was interrupted by the apparition of Dr & Mrs Storrar – who you may remember as belonging to the Marstons parties of long ago: friends of Mrs Crowe. – They also are come to live at Hampstead. – The Pond St railway is open: a big station & grand. Annie went home by it. It is so convenient for Richmond that Fanny & Jane are likely permanently to settle near– – Today is lovely but very sharp & frosty – I wish I could send you a bit of cold weather – & yet you mightn’t like it if you had it. – I have fallen into work again of a mild fever – extracts for Macmillan – & a book of children’s poetry – which will probably go to Macmillan also. – & which I want Clarence to illustrate. Clarence returns to London on Monday next – He said he was going to write you by this mail – but I think he has been busy & put it off till next. – I got a Xmas letter from Lizzie – she is better – but hint has had me of her bad attacks of spasms – ill 3 weeks. – The rest well. – I have seen nothing of Harvey Smith – nor have the Blythes. You are constantly talked about & ask after by Hampstead generally – & everybody takes an interest in the news of you. You are decidedly a Hero in a small way to Hampstead. – if that’s any satisfaction to you– – God bless you – my dearest boy – I can’t say any more –

Ever your affectionate Sister

Short for dies non juridicus, dies non is a day where no legal business is transacted, or which is not reckoned in counting days for some particular purpose. "dies, n.b." OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2020, www.oed.com/view/Entry/52417. The "Miller of Dee" was a character in an English song who was flagrantly self-sufficient who did not need anybody and therefore did not need to care about others. Dinah is indicating that Ben Mulock has a reluctance and wariness to making new friends through this metaphor. "Love in a Village." Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable. Eds. McMahon, Sean, and Jo O'Donoghue. : Chambers Harrap Publishers, , 2011. Oxford Reference. https://www-oxfordreference-com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/view/10.1093/acref/9780199916191.001.0001/acref-9780199916191-e-3214.