"The proofs you sent me are perfectly satisfactory. 'The Good Shepherd' doesn't require anything, and the other only wants a touch on the face. Next to the King is a little coarse in the shadow: make it a little less scratchy."
In reply to a letter of ours asking for a further supply of "Parable" drawings, Mrs. Millais writes:
"Bowerswell,
"August 9th.
"Dear Sir,—I am very sorry to write to you instead of packing up for you some wood drawings. Mr. Millais has begged me to write to you, as he says he is ashamed of himself, but he has felt such a disinclination to turn to that kind of drawing at present, when he is painting out of doors, that he must beg you to have patience with him. Several times as he has got designs and drawings ready, I have got him to sit down to them, but he rose up disgusted and feeling incapable. He goes to London next week but returns in a few days. He declares he will then set to work, so we must hope the fit will have come on for work of the kind in which you are interested. In the meantime he has nothing nearly ready, if he would only begin again, but he is at work all day, and in the evening too tired. Next week the young ladies he is painting from leave, and he will be free to turn to something else.
"With best regards,
"Believe me, yours truly,
"Effie Millais."
Mrs. Millais, writing on another occasion to account for the non-delivery of drawings, says:
"Bowerswell, Perth,
"November 26th.
"He is very sorry not to answer your letter about the Parables. He says, at this season, that he is always occupied on his pictures, and that although he can occasionally do drawings on the wood at odd times, that he cannot attempt to do the Parables, which are, as you know, much finer work. He is anxious to make that work as perfect as possible, and when he does one or more he puts his painting aside for the time. He cannot do that during the winter and spring, and therefore begs you to have patience with him, as he will work at them whenever he has sufficient leisure. He is well aware how anxious you are to have the work finished. I am sure he is also. But he often makes designs, and continues to improve them until he is quite satisfied that it is as good as he can make it, and this takes a long time.
"Very truly yours,