Now to go back--and tell you about my Goodman. He had three weeks of "real high time" in Malta. Then he came home--to Warwick Road. At first I thought him much _hot-climatized_, and was worried. But he is now looking as well as can be. We had a few very happy days at Ecclesfield. It is a most tender spot with me that he is so fond of my old home! They know his ways--he says he is at peace--and he rambles about among the old books--and the people in the village are so glad to see him--and it is very nice.
He took up his duties here on our 16th wedding day!
The place suits him admirably. I felt sure it would. But I did not hope _I_ should feel as well in it as I do. It IS hot--and not VERY dry--but it is _much_ less relaxing than I thought, and where we have got our house it is high and breezy--and very, very nice. I am most thankful, and only long to get settled and be able to work!
We are in lodgings close to--next door to--the very fine barracks. Our room looks into the barrack-yard, and the dear bugles wake and send us to sleep!
Caldecott has done _seventeen_ illustrations to "Jackanapes."
Once more I thank you for lovely flowers! including one of my chief favourites--a white Iris. It is very good of you. You do not know what pleasure they give me! If you continue to bless me with an occasional nosegay when I move into my house, I shall not so bitterly suffer from the barrenness of the garden.
This is suggestive of the nasty definition of gratitude that it is a keen sense of favours to come!
I have been meaning to write to you to express something of our delight with the "Songs of Old Ireland."
Major Ewing is charmed by the melodies, on which his opinion is worth something and mine is not! and _I_ can't "read them out of a printed book" without an instrument. But--we are equally charmed by the words!!
It is a very rare pleasure to be able to give way to unmitigated enjoyment of modern verse by one's friends. Don't you know? But we have fairly raved over one after the other of these charming songs!
I do hope Mr. Graves does not consider that friendly criticisms come under the head of "personal remarks" and are offensive!
I cannot say how truly I appreciate them. Anything absolutely first-rately done of its kind is always very refreshing, and I do not see how such national songs could be done much better. They are Irish to the core!