Mrs. Tennyson was afraid of wounding her friend; she tried reprisals perhaps, which we may guess at as we read Mrs. Cameron’s own reproaches and eulogies combined in a letter concerning an Easter gift: ‘It was really an Easter Day offering to my spirit which seemed to tell me of “a bride in raiment clean” and “a glittering star” such as I may through God’s grace be some day, but now I am a grandmother with every vestige of grace gone, not preserving, as you do, a youthful figure; and truly I am not worthy of the lovely jacket and _therefore I shall bring it back_.... Mr. Jowett has been sitting with Charles and when he would long for the open air comes to cheer and enliven him. Truly he has a sweet virtue.’ Her name for Jowett was ‘little Benjamin their ruler.’ Her picture of him in her gallery will be remembered. Mrs. Cameron the _Martha_ friend loved to work for the _Mary_ friend. We read of a hat with a long feather and broad blue ribbons to be ordered in London—then messages and details about furniture from the mistress of Farringford. ‘I have tried many times to get some violet-coloured cloth, because Alfred has always admired the violet covering in your dining-room. Will you do me the kindness to get me some sufficiently good?’ Then she goes on to give news of her home, of the bay-window being added to the study, ‘that dear little room hallowed by so many associations which should scarcely be touched even in improvement.’ ‘Are you afraid of our falling leaves,’ she writes, urging Mrs. Cameron to come to stay with them. ‘We sweep them up diligently every day for the good of our own little ones and there would be an increased diligence for the sake of your poor sick lamb. I am so glad you returned thanks in Church. I am sure the world would be better if we claimed our right of brotherly sympathy with all, for it is only those who give theirs beforehand, who think of claiming it....’ One letter dated January 1, 1855, might have been written word for word to-day. ‘Many, many happy New Years to you, my dear Mrs. Cameron, and to all you love. How vain is this wish for thousands on this particular year! It is difficult to interest oneself in any common events. Only one’s friends can take off one’s thoughts from the war....’ Mrs. Tennyson envies someone who has sent out a shipload of help. ‘Ah, well! We may all do our little if we will but do what we have to do, and not waste our time in vain longings for that which is given to others to do. _You_ can never have been guilty of this in all your life....’ III. Mrs. Cameron sometimes writes to Tennyson as well as to his wife. Here is a quotation from a long letter written in 1855.