Thanks for nice new proofs. I haven't found any false references, but I didn't look. I'll have all verified by my secretary. I'm busy with an article on modern novels and don't feel a bit pious just now; so the responses have hung fire. 32. _May 9._ You are really very good about this, and shall have the notes (_D.V._) within a fortnight. The Scott could not be put off, being promised for June 19, _Nineteenth Century_, and I could not do novels and sermons together. I don't think the notes will be long. The letters seem to be mostly compliments or small objections not worth noticing. 33. _May 14th, 1880._ I've just done--yesterday with Scott, and took up the letters for the first time this morning seriously. I had never seen _yours_ at all when I wrote last. I fell first on Mr. ----, whom I read with some attention, and commented on with little favour; went on to the next, and remained content with that taste till I had done my Scott. I have this morning been reading your own, on which I very earnestly congratulate you. God knows it isn't because they are friendly or complimentary, but because you _do_ see what I mean, and people hardly ever do--and I think it needs very considerable power and feeling to forgive and understand as you do. You have said everything _I_ want to say, and much more--except on the one point of excommunication, which will be the chief, almost the only subject of my final note. I write in haste to excuse myself for my former note. Ever affectionately and gratefully yours, J. RUSKIN. (NOTE.--A legal friend remarks that in his opinion I should refrain from printing _extracts_ from letters, and always print the whole; or, indeed, in the present case, the whole series of letters, lest it should be suspected that I am making a self-indulgent selection only of the good words which Mr. Ruskin is kind enough to use in his communications with me. Let me here say, however, that had there been in all these letters any which conveyed censure, stricture, or blame of any kind, I should not have withheld my hand from including them. But no such letters ever came to me. Mr. Ruskin is the very pink of courtesy with his friends, and he _may_ have suppressed remarks which he thought might wound me. But I am reproducing here not my friend's secret thoughts, but only those of his letters which remain in my possession.--EDITOR.) 34. _May 26th, 1880._