the majority of us though it is difficult to believe that the shadow on the dial proves the passing of the trial proves the presence of the it may i think be said that after the tempest comes only calm but sunshine that there is some sort of compensation for most of us even in n ox congratulations elizabeth dart was not one given to her woes she recognised even in her misery that many a woman was not only worse off than herself as the phrase goes but had far deeper cause for tears was not mrs for example � of whom in her ignorance she had been sometimes to think hard things � one far more to be pitied nor was she so as to attempt to misfortune by it to herself as having come to the length of its the very letter now in her hand might bring tidings of illness from aunt jane in the and morbid condition of her nerves it seemed only too probable and still more of bitterness into her cup still that cup was well nigh full to be a and an for life was the best prospect that life afforded her she took the letter from s hands with a sigh half of apprehension half of despondency it was not from aunt jane but from mr she tore it open less in expectation than in fear to encourage expectation which should leave her more hopeless than before and out leaped a for twenty pounds the blood rushed to her face as though it had received a blow charity � compensation for disappointment � was her tion of the phenomenon she took up the with her fingers as though they had been a pair of and placed it on the table before her the letter that accompanied it was a long one as letters must needs be which for a kindness that may well be mistaken for an insult she had heard of such generosity before in similar cases and the writer s heart must have been touched by her forlorn condition which he must have guessed at however by the magic of sympathy since it was certain she had never hinted at it while his judgment had condemned her contribution � my dear madam � you have i fear been thinking me sadly but a severe and sudden illness an attack of low fever must be my excuse for not having written to you long ago my last act and deed in health was to send your admirable article to the i have never seen it since until i read it in the to day � a circumstance which if you knew my habits which never permit a proof to be in the reading would have all the force of a medical strange to say it has scarcely ever been out of my thoughts a hundred times as i tossed on lo restless pillow have i been a � � i s the heir of the ages pier and in the quaint little town i have seen the clothed or at their exercises and at their trial on the windy downs i have fought against tiie and with them for delirium has no patriotism on battle hill i have seen the towns that lie the sea in your enchanted neighbourhood and peopled them with inhabitants who have suffered no sea change what all this meant as regards your contribution was of course clear enough to me and needed no from without still it will interest you to learn that one of her majesty s judges � almost the only one in these days who has any claim to be considered a judge in literary matters � has just been calling on me under the transparent pretence of inquiring after my health but in reality to learn who is john are you aware my dear sir he was so good as to say that in the net of your this month i will not say owing to your absence from your duties but in spite of it there shines and one of those very rare fish called a genius i am well aware of it my was my reply i dare say however you will be careful not to encourage unreasonable expectations by letting the gentleman know your opinion of him was his dry a sarcasm which i hope you will do me the justice to say was it reminded me however of what but for my illness would assuredly not have been forgotten � namely to express to you the very great admiration i feel f or a bit of old england and its author it is easy to invest with interest an uncommon subject but to make a one even acceptable is a feat beyond most pens your little paper will delight every eye that reads it and possesses the faculty of appreciation as a mere piece of description it is perfect � as good as s sketches of north scenery the stores of knowledge which it has laid under contribution for its illustration must strike every one as unusually ample but to one who hke myself is acquainted with your age and sex they are indeed amazing the chief and much more uncommon merit of the paper lies however in its in the ordinary reader it must needs thought and reflection which will be sure to leave him a wiser man than they found him but for the more exceptional one from his the judge down to the humble editor who now addresses congratulations you it possesses also a as respects the writer and her with far greater powers even than she has exhibited this is promise rather than performance is a professional phrase which find convenient for the of youthful but in your case it must be varied there is plenty of performance in your work but also a promise far beyond it and of which to speak 