Then a word as to the new novel, or any other work, will be acceptable.

I lend about _La Beata_ in all good quarters, and always hear golden opinions from all sorts of people.

Of course you hear from Anthony.
"Is he prosperous and enjoying his life?
The book will have an enormous sale just now; but I fancy he will find more animosity and less friendliness than he expected, to judge from the state of exasperation against the Britisher, which seems to be general.
"We have been pursuing the even baritone--I wish I could say tenor--of our way.

My health became seriously alarming in September, so we went off to Malvern for a fortnight; and there the mountain air, exercise, and regular diet set me up, so that I have been in better training for work than I had been for a long while.

Polly has not been strong, yet not materially amiss.