k, dear Friend! Here are your dear labors of love,--the letters and
enclosures, and here is my first day of leisure this long fortnight,
for, would you believe it? I have been silly enough to sit every
morning for three hours to one painter, who took an additional two
hours yesterday, in order to get done; before which exercise of
patience I had to sit to another gentleman, who will summon me again
in due time,--all this since my return from Venice and the _youthful
five_! However, when, two days ago, there was yet another application
to sit, the bear within the 'lion' came out, and I declined, as little
gruffly as I was able. And so the end is I can talk and enjoy
myself--even at a distance--with a friend as suddenly dear as all
hands from the clouds must needs be. I will not try and thank you for
what you know I so gratefully have accepted,--and shall keep forever,
I trust.

"Well, here is the Duke's letter; he is a man of few words, and less
protestation; but feels, as he should, your kindness, and will gladly
acknowledge it, should you come to England, and it seems that you may.
But what will Venice be without you next year, if we return there as
we hope to do?

"... Mrs. Bloomfield Moore passed through London some three weeks ago,
and at once wrote to me about what pictures of Robert's might be
visible? She at once bought the huge 'Delivery to the Secular Arm,'
for the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, and the 'Dinard Market
Woman' for herself, and this so spontaneously, and I did hear in a day
or two that she was convinced I had not asked half enough for the
pictures! She had inquired at the Gallery where the larger one was
exhibited, and they estimated its value at so much. I told her their
estimate was not mine, and that Robert was thoroughly remunerated--to
say nothing of what he would think of all this graciousness; and since
her departure I have had an extremely gratifying letter full of
satisfaction at her purchases,..."

On the death of Lord Houghton, Mr. Browning had been prevailed upon to
accept the office of Foreign Correspondent to the Royal Academy; he was
much beloved by the Academicians, many of whom were among his familiar
friends, and that his son was an artist endeared to him all art.

To Mrs. Bronson Browning once remarked: "Do you know, dear friend, if the
thing were poss