Sonnet. But he is
a Poet, and cannot be harnessed.

I have still a few flowers surviving in my Garden; and I certainly never
remember the foliage of trees so little changed in October's third week.
A little flight of Snow however: whose first flight used to quicken my
old Crabbe's fancy: Sir Eustace Grey written under such circumstances.
{198}

And I am always yours
LITTLEGRANGE

(not 'Markethill' as you persist in addressing me.)

LXXXII.

WOODBRIDGE, _Novr._ 17/80.

MY DEAR LADY,

Here is the Moon very near her Full: so I send you a Letter. I have it
in my head you are not in London: and may not be when I go up there for a
few days next week--for this reason I think so: viz., that you have not
acknowledged a Copy of Charles Tennyson's Sonnets, which I desired Kegan
Paul to send you, as from me--with my illustrious Initials on the Fly
Leaf: and, he or one of his men, wrote that so it should be, or had been
done. It may nevertheless not have been: or, if in part done, the
illustrious Initials forgotten. But I rather think the Book was sent:
and that you would have guessed at the Sender, Initials or not. And as I
know you are even over-scrupulous in acknowledging any such things, I
gather that the Book came when you had left London--for Leamington, very
likely: and that there you are now. The Book, and your Acknowledgment of
it, will very well wait: but I wish to hear about yourself--as also about
yours--if you should be among them. I talk of 'next week,' because one
of my few Visitors, Archdeacon Groome, is coming the week after that, I
believe, for a day or two to my house: and, as he has not been here for
two years, I do not wish to be out of the way.

A Letter about a fortnight ago from Mowbray Donne told me that his Father
was fairly well: and a Post Card from Mowbray two days ago informed [me]
that Valentia was to be in London this present week. But I have wanted
to be here at home all this time: I would rather see Donne when he is
alone: and I would rather go to London when there is more likelihood of
seeing you there than now seems to me. Of course you will not in the
slightest way hasten your return to London (if now away from it) for my
poor little Visits: but pray let me hear from you, and believe me always
the same

E. F.G.

LXXXIII.

WOODBRIDGE: _Decr._ 6, [1880.]

MY DEAR LADY,

I was surprised to see a Letter in your MS. which could not be in answer
to any of m