I send you the money from Mr. Greville for the portrait of his mother. I am very glad you should have this new commission, but you must thank him, not me, for it was entirely his idea and desire. He is indeed one of the kindest and best men possible. I look on him myself as a second father.
To save time, I shall make arrangements for you to work in my studio on the 4 first days of January, if you can manage it. I shall be out of town, and you will have the place all to yourself.
I wish you a happy Xmas and New Year, and remain.
Warnford Court,
Bishops Waltham.
You will forgive me, I am sure, for not writing to you to thank you for your letter, received some weeks back; but the fact is I have been so very busy as to make writing a matter of very great difficulty. I heard from your father not long ago that you have been very fortunate in getting capital commissions for portraits where you have been staying. I am very glad indeed to hear it, and trust sincerely that you feel you are progressing as steadily in proficiency as in prosperity. To the commissions you have had in the country, I have one to add here. Mr. Henry Greville wishes you to paint for him a copy of a head of a relation of his—I believe, of poor Lady Ellesmere, his sister, whose recent death has been such a terrible grief to him. You will, I am sure, be glad to undertake this painting, even though it may not in itself be very interesting. The size is a sort of oval kit-cat, not large. He proposes to offer you ten pounds for it.
How is Miss Nan? I hope you have good accounts of her, and that all goes smoothly between you.
I send this to Bath to be forwarded, as I don't know your present whereabouts.
Dear Johnny,—I am just off to Paris, and write one line in hot haste to thank you for yours, and to say that I am delighted to hear you are conscious of progress. Come back as soon as you can conveniently, please, because Mr. Greville has borrowed Lady Ellesmere's portrait for you to copy, and wants to return it as soon as possible to the Duke of Devonshire.
Come and see me when you return, and believe me, with kind regards to Miss Nan,—Yours always,
F.L.