‘Dear Miss Beale,—There is not the least need of this flame of gratitude. I am only too glad to find a place where I can send books likely to be permanently useful to English girls. I am sending three more to-day, which I think likely to be far more serviceable than those finer ones, containing as they do, quantities of sound historical information given in a simple and graceful way on subjects which every Christian girl should have knowledge of, while I suppose not one in fifty ever hears any truth about them. They are nice collegiate books too, to look at.
‘I am mightily pleased too at your having a girl-organist, and hope to work out some old plans with her.—Ever most truly yours,
J. Ruskin.’
‘Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, March 24.
‘Dear Miss Beale,—These candlesticks are lovely, but a little too loose and catchy to be quite good design. The fillets of the bases should be bars, and branch into the foliage, not be entangled in it. But I am heartily glad to see such work.
‘The glass for the MSS. will be excellent,—but only the lazuli and gold will stand sunlight—all colours of time fade in full light. But there’s no harm in a little fading of the Greek Evangelists, or the musical notes on a single page.
‘That Norway Bishops’ book will be a lovely companion to the Old Geography.
‘You needn’t mind who is or isn’t in association with you.
‘You have plenty of power alone—and inventiveness enough to boot.—Ever affectly. yrs.,
J. R.’