A whole twelvemonth have I been a letter in your debt, for which fault I have been sufficiently punished by self-reproach.
I liked your Play marvellously, having no objection to it but one, which strikes me as applicable to a large majority of plays, those of Shakspeare himself not entirely excepted—I mean a little degradation of character for a more dramatic turn of plot. Your present of Hone's book was very acceptable; and so much so, that your part of the book is the cause why I did not write long ago. I wished to enter a little minutely into notice of the dramatic extracts, and, on account of the smallness of the print, deferred doing so till longer days would allow me to read without candle-light, which I have long since given up. But, alas! when the days lengthened, my eyesight departed, and for many months I could not read three minutes at a time. You will be sorry to hear that this infirmity still hangs about me, and almost cuts me off from reading altogether. But how are you, and how is your dear sister? I long much, as we all do, to know.
For ourselves, this last year, owing to my sister's dangerous illness, the effects of which are not yet got over, has been an anxious one and melancholy. But no more of this. My sister has probably told everything about the family; so that I may conclude with less scruple, by assuring you of my sincere and faithful affection for you and your dear sister.
WM. WORDSWORTH.[107]
68. Summer: Mr. Quillinan: Draining, &c.
LETTER TO G. HUNTLY GORDON, ESQ.
Rydal Mount, April 6. 1830.
MY DEAR MR. GORDON,
You are kind in noticing with thanks my rambling notes.[108]
We have had here a few days of delicious summer weather.