om you. And you know that I wish to hear that all is well with
you, and that I am always yours

E. F.G.

How is Mr. Sartoris? And I see a Book of _hers_ advertised. {203b}

LXXXV.

WOODBRIDGE: _Jan._ 17, [1881.]

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

The Moon has passed her Full: but my Eyes have become so troubled since
Christmas that I have not written before. All Christmas I was alone:
Aldis Wright came to me on New Year's Day, and read to me, among many
other things, 'Winter's Tale' which we could not take much delight in. No
Play more undoubtedly, nor altogether, Shakespeare's, but seeming to me
written off for some 'occasion' theatrical, and then, I suppose that Mrs.
Siddons made much of the Statue Scene.

I cannot write much, and I fancy that you will not care to read much, if
you are indeed about to leave Queen Anne. That is a very vexatious
business. You will probably be less inclined to write an answer to my
letter, than to read it: but answer it you will: and you need trouble
yourself to say no more than how you are, and where, and when, you are
going, if indeed you leave where you are. And do not cross your letter,
pray: and believe me always your sincere old friend

E. F.G.

LXXXVI.

[_Feb._, 1881.]

MY DEAR LADY:

I expected to send you a piece of Print as well as a Letter this Full
Moon. {205} But the Print is not come from the Printer's: and perhaps
that is as well: for now you can thank me for it beforehand when you
reply (as I know you will) to this Letter--and no more needs to be said.
For I do [not] need your Advice as to Publication in this case; no such
Design is in my head: on the contrary, not even a Friend will know of it
except yourself, Mr. Norton, and Aldis Wright: the latter of whom would
not be of the party but that he happened to be here when I was too
purblind to correct the few Proofs, and very kindly did so for me. As
for Mr. Norton (America), he it was for whom it was printed at all--at
his wish, he knowing the MS. had been lying by me unfinisht for years. It
is a Version of the two OEdipus Plays of Sophocles united as two Parts of
one Drama. I should not send it to you but that I feel sure that, if you
are in fair health and spirits, you will be considerably interested in
it, and probably give me more credit for my share in it than I deserve.
As I make sure of this you see there will be no need to say anything more
about it. The Chorus part is not mine, as you