III. L’ESTERELLE 525

peace and war; for the Fates wove for me, but a little while after they brought me that friend to Sallenches glen, another net of Love; in which alike the warp and woof were of deeper colours.

Soon after I returned home, in the eventful year 1858, a lady wrote to me from-somewhere near Green Street, W.,¹-saying, as people sometimes did, in those days, that she saw I was the only sound teacher in Art; but this farther, very seriously, that she wanted her children-two girls and a boy-taught the beginnings of Art rightly; especially the younger girl, in whom she thought I might find some power worth developing:-would I come and see her? I thought I should rather like to; so I went, to near Green Street; and found the mother-the sort of person I expected, but a good deal more than I expected, and in all sorts of ways. Extremely pretty still, herself, nor at all too old to learn many things; but mainly anxious for her children. Emily, the elder daughter, wasn’t in; but Rosie was,-should she be sent for to the nursery? Yes, I said, if it wouldn’t tease the child, she might be sent for. So presently the drawing-room door opened, and Rosie came in, quietly taking stock of me with her blue eyes as she walked across the room; gave me her hand, as a good dog gives its paw, and then stood a little back. Nine years old, on 3rd January, 1858, thus now rising towards ten; neither tall nor short for her age; a little stiff in her way of standing. The eyes rather deep blue at that time, and fuller and softer than afterwards. Lips perfectly lovely in profile;-a little too wide, and hard in edge, seen in front; the rest of the features what a fair, well-bred Irish girl’s usually are; the hair, perhaps, more graceful in short curl round the forehead, and softer than one sees often, in the close-bound tresses above the neck.

52. I thought it likely she might be taught to draw a little, if she would take time; I did not expect her to take pains, and told her mother so, at once. Rosie says

¹ [Actually, at 10 Great Cumberland Place first and afterwards in Norfolk Street.]

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