lxx INTRODUCTION

the distance, but Venus was the brightest light of all. I did not see Orion, or any other star, only her. And then I was thinking of you; it made me think of the guide of the wise men, His star in the East, only this shone in the West. She looked down so brightly over the gaslights as if it was intended we should see how much purer and brighter, though at such-such-a distance, is the Heavenly light if we would only look for it, than our rows of yellow gaslights that we think so much of. Yes, we have a strange Peace on earth, because earth or its inhabitants do not all of them like the Peace that our Prince can give, do not all want it, do not all believe in it. Some think that Pleasure is Peace, and seek it for themselves; some think that following Satan is Peace, and some think there is no Peace given on earth, that God gives work to do and strength to do it, sore with sorrow and pain, but peace is only in heaven ... but they are ready to give up their lives in His service, and live without joy, if it is His will. They are faithful, noble souls, but though they could die for God, they are beaten back and tossed with the waves of temptation and sorrow; they will not believe in the hope and joyful parts of Christianity and by rejecting God as the Comforter they reject all Peace. I believe we don’t believe in that Peace rightly-”

And then she goes on to send him a selection of texts. He and she were not to find earthly peace; but in after years, he often derived support and comfort from “Rosie’s texts” in a Bible which she had given him.

Thus for some years the idyll continued, until the girl ripened into the woman. Rosie’s sister had married in 1865, and henceforward Ruskin had seen the younger girl shining by her own separate light:-

“I saw her upon nearer view,

A spirit, yet a Woman too!

Her household motions light and free,

And steps of virgin liberty;

A countenance in which did meet

Sweet records, promises as sweet.”

Ruskin and Rosie met often in London; often also at Lady Mount Temple’s, at Broadlands. The day came, in 1866, when he told his love, and acquainted her parents with his hope to make her his wife. Rosie herself, though her girl’s heart can hardly have been unprepared, was irresolute. She showed no attraction towards any one else, and her affection for her master was strong, but she manifested no such clear and definite readiness to accept Ruskin’s proposal as should overcome the reluctance of her parents. The least that their

[Version 0.04: March 2008]