ick
all through the Commandments, and heard Dr. ---- expound in a
remarkable way a prophecy of St. Paul about Roman Catholics, which,
_mutatis mutandis_, would do very well for Protestants in some parts.
Then I made a little nursery of borecole and Enfield market cabbage,
grubbing in wet earth with leggings and grey coat on. Then I tidied up
the coach-house to my own and Christine's admiration. Then encouraged
by _bouts-rimes_ I wrote you a copy of verses; high time, I think; I
shall just save my tenth year of knowing my lady love without inditing
poetry or rhymes to her.

"Then I rummaged over the box with my father's letters, and found
interesting notes from myself. One I should say my first letter, which
little Austin I should say would rejoice to see, and shall see--with a
drawing of a cottage and a spirited 'cob.' What was more to the
purpose, I found with it a paste-cutter which Mary begged humbly for
Christine, and I generously gave this morning.

"Then I read some of Congreve. There are admirable scenes in the
manner of Sheridan; all wit and no character, or rather one character
in a great variety of situations and scenes. I could show you some
scenes, but others are too coarse even for my stomach, hardened by a
course of French novels.

"All things look so happy for the rain.

"_Nov. 16._--Verbenas looking well.... I am but a poor creature
without you; I have naturally no spirit or fun or enterprise in me.
Only a kind of mechanical capacity for ascertaining whether two really
is half four, etc.; but when you are near me I can fancy that I too
shine, and vainly suppose it to be my proper light; whereas by my
extreme darkness when you are not by, it clearly can only be by a
reflected brilliance that I seem aught but dull. Then for the moral
part of me: if it were not for you and little Odden, I should feel by
no means sure that I had any affection power in me.... Even the
muscular me suffers a sad deterioration in your absence. I don't get
up when I ought to, I have snoozed in my chair after dinner; I do not
go in at the garden with my wonted vigour, and feel ten times as tired
as usual with a walk in your absence; so you see, when you are not by,
I am a person without ability, affections, or vigour, but droop, dull,
selfish, and spiritless; can you wonder that I love you?

"_Nov. 17._--... I am very glad we married young. I would not