characters of the hero and heroine, which she pronounces to be rather
feeble, are first-rate. Why don't you write two-volume novels? There
is always something in analogy: reflect how seldom Nature herself
produces three at a birth: when she does, it is only two, at most,
which survive. We shall look forward to your next effort with much
interest, but we hope you will give more time and pains to it.
Remember what Horace says upon this subject (He has no more knowledge
of Horace than he has of Sanscrit, but he has read the quotation in
that vile review in the _Scourge_.) Maggie thinks you live too
luxuriously: if your expenses were less you would not be compelled to
write so much, and you would do it better. Excuse this well-meant
advice from an elder brother.

'Yours always,

'Tom.'

'One's sisters, and one's cousins, and one's aunts' also write in more
or less the same style, though, to do their sex justice, less
offensively. 'If you were to go abroad, my dear Dick,' says one, 'it
would expand your mind. There is nothing to blame in your last
production, which strikes me (what I could understand of it at least,
for some of it is a little Bohemian) as very pleasing; but the fact is,
that English subjects are quite used up.' Others discover for themselves
the originals of Dick's characters in persons he has never dreamt of
describing, and otherwise exhibit a most marvellous familiarity with his
materials. 'Hennie, who has just been here, is immensely delighted with
your satirical sketch of her husband. He, however, as you may suppose,
is _wild_, and says you had better withdraw your name from the
candidates' book at his club. I don't know how many black balls exclude,