What Christmas wishes warm from the heart by heartfuls I throw at you! And say to Ellen Heaton, with cordial love, that I thank her much for her kind letter, and remember her in all affectionate wishes made for friends.

I shall write to Mr.Ruskin.
_Don't_ get this letter, I say.
Your E.B.B.
Robert's love, and _Penini's_.

If 'Fanny' strikes you, 'Madame Bovary' will thunder-strike you.
* * * * * _To Miss Mitford_ 43 Via di Leone, Rome: January 7, 18[54].
It is long, my ever dearest Miss Mitford, since I wrote to you last, but since we came to Rome we have had troubles, out of the deep pit of which I was unwilling to write to you, lest the shadows of it should cleave as blots to my pen.

Then one day followed another, and one day's work was laid on another's shoulders.

Well, we are all well, to begin with, and have been well; our troubles came to us through sympathy entirely.