the "mesh of her soul" as Browning calls the body, was
too rare, and the sacred quiet of her own home proved
the native atmosphere for her worth and work. All
that, must be inviolate. One can only speak of
"Duties beautifully done" - of her gentle tillage of
her rare flowers filling her conservatory, into which,
like the heavenly Paradise entered nothing that could
defile, and which was ever abloom in frost or sunshine,
so well she knew her chemistries - of her gentle ten-
derness of all in the home circle - her gentlewoman's
grace, and courtesy to all who served in house, and
grounds - of her quick rich response to all who re-
joiced, or suffered at home, or among her wide circle
of friends the world over. This side of her nature
was to her, the real side - that is, the entity in
which she rested, so simple and strong was her instinct
that a woman's hearth-stone is her shrine. Her talk
and her writings, were like no one else, and although
she never published a line, now and then some enthus-
iastic literary friend, would turn love to larceny, and
cause a few verses surreptitiously obtained, to be
printed. Thus, and through other natural ways, many
saw and admired her verses, and in consequence fre-
quently notable persons paid her visits, hoping to
overcome the protest of her nature and gain a
promise of occasional contributions at least to
various magazines. She withstood the fascinations
of Helen Jackson who earnestly sought her cooperation


[marginal notes in MDB's hand:]

l.3 "native" changed to "fit"

l.7 "like" " "as into"

l.9 "subtle" added before "chemistries"
"gentle" deleted

l.12 "and" added between
"quick" and rich

l.15 "the real