has progressed so _astoundingly_ owing to her immense roots of vitality and health, that one may be almost _certain_ (_unberufen_) of her complete recovery, in which event she will enjoy life more than she has done for several years. Her family and friends have escaped an entirely irreparable loss. The very beautiful picture, "Greek Girls Picking up Pebbles by the Shore of the Sea," was also exhibited in the Academy in 1871, likewise a smaller work, "Cleoboulos Instructing his Daughter Cleobouline." This is one of several which proves Leighton's gift for catching the grace and singular refinement of childhood. "Lord Leighton's drawings and paintings of children show the protecting, caressing tenderness he felt towards them. He loved little things, little children, kittens--'caressing littleness, that littleness in which there is much of the whole woeful heart of things'--everything lovely that had in it the unconscious grace of helplessness seemed especially to touch him." In 1872 "Summer Moon" was exhibited--the picture Watts told me he thought he preferred to all of Leighton's paintings. I believe the cause of this preference arose from the fact that the quality and texture in "Summer Moon" is looser and more vibrating, and gives a greater sense of atmosphere than is suggested by Leighton's works as a rule. Moonlight mystifies the tints of purple and blue, and creeps over and into every fold of the beautiful drapery--glistening on the white garment of the recumbent figure. In every line and touch in the exquisite design of the figures and drapery lurks the poetry of moonlight; the song of a nightingale perched on the branch of a pomegranate tree enhancing the sense of deep restfulness in the scene.[43] [Illustration: "SUMMER MOON." 1872 By permission of Messrs. P. & D. Colnaghi, the owners of the Copyright] [Illustration: "A CONDOTTIERE." 1872] [Illustration: STUDY FOR FIGURE IN FRIEZE. "MUSIC." 1886 Leighton House Collection] [Illustration: STUDY FOR FIGURE IN "THE ARTS OF WAR," Victoria and Albert Museum. 1872 Leighton House Collection] [Illustration: STUDY FOR FIGURE IN "THE ARTS OF WAR," Victoria and Albert Museum. 1872 Leighton House Collection] [Illustration: STUDY FOR FIGURE IN "THE ARTS OF WAR," Victoria and Albert Museum. 1872 Leighton House Collection]