ichever way you like.

XXVI.

LOWESTOFT, _March_ 17/75.

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

This bit of Letter is written to apprise you that, having to go to
Woodbridge three days ago, I sent you by Post a little Volume of the
Plays, and (what I had forgotten) a certain little Prose Dialogue {65}
done up with them. This is more than you wanted, but so it is. The
Dialogue is a pretty thing in some respects: but disfigured by some
confounded _smart_ writing in parts: And this is all that needs saying
about the whole concern. You must not think necessary to say anything
more about it yourself, only that you receive the Book. If you do not,
in a month's time, I shall suppose it has somehow lost its way over the
Atlantic: and then I will send you the Plays you asked for, stitched
together--and those only.

I hope you got my Letter (which you had not got when your last was
written) about Crabbe: for I explained in it why I did not wish to
trouble you or Mr. Furness any more with such an uncertain business.
Anyhow, I must ask you to thank him for the trouble he had already taken,
as I hope you know that I thank you also for your share in it.

I scarce found a Crocus out in my Garden at home, and so have come back
here till some green leaf shows itself. We are still under the dominion
of North East winds, which keep people coughing as well as the Crocus
under ground. Well, we hope to earn all the better Spring by all this
Cold at its outset.

I have so often spoken of my fear of troubling you by all my Letters,
that I won't say more on that score. I have heard no news of Donne since
I wrote. I have been trying to read Gil Blas and La Fontaine again; but,
as before, do not relish either. {67} I must get back to my Don Quixote
by and by.

Yours as ever

E. F.G.

I wonder if this letter will smell of Tobacco: for it is written just
after a Pipe, and just before going to bed.

XXVII.

LOWESTOFT: _April_ 9/75.

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

I wrote you a letter more than a fortnight ago--mislaid it--and now am
rather ashamed to receive one from you thanking me beforehand for the
mighty Book which I posted you a month ago. I only hope you will not
feel bound to acknowledge [it] when it does reach you, I think I said so
in the Letter I wrote to go along with it. And I must say no more in the
way of deprecating your Letters, after what you write me. Be assured
that all my deprecations were for your sake, not mine;