16 BLANDFORD SQUARE, N.W., _Wednesday_. DEAR MR. LEIGHTON,--I feel for you as well as myself in this inevitable difficulty--nay, impossibility of producing perfect correspondence between my intention and the illustrations. I think your sketch is charming, considered in itself, and I feel now with regret that if we had seen each other and talked a little together after you had read the proof, the only important discrepancy might have been prevented. It is too late for alterations now. If it had not been, I should have wished Bardo's head to be raised with the chin thrust forward a little--the usual attitude of the blind head, I think--and turned a little towards Romola, "as if he were looking at her." Romola's attitude is perfect, and the composition is altogether such as gives me a very cheering prospect for the future, when we have more time for preparation. Her face and hair, though deliciously beautiful, are not just the thing--how could they be? Do not make yourself uneasy if alteration is impossible, but I meant the hair to fall forward from behind the ears over the neck, and the dress to be without ornament. I shall inevitably be detestable to you, but believe that I am (Unfinished) 16 BLANDFORD SQUARE, N.W., _Thursday_. DEAR MR. LEIGHTON,--Unmitigated delight! Nello is better than my Nello. I see the love and care with which the drawings are done. After I had sent away my yesterday's note, written in such haste that I was afterwards uncomfortable lest I had misrepresented my feelings, the very considerations you suggest had occurred to me and I had talked them over with Mr. Lewes--namely, that the exigencies of your art must forbid perfect correspondence between the text and the illustration; and I came to the conclusion that it was these exigencies which had determined you as to the position of Bardo's head and the fall of Romola's hair. You have given her attitude transcendently well, and the attitude is more important than the mere head-dress. I am glad you chose Nello's shop; it makes so good a variety with Bardo and Romola. In a day or two you will have the second part, and I think you will find there a scene for Tessa "under the Plane Tree." But perhaps we shall see each other before you begin the next drawings.--Ever yours truly, M.E. LEWES. 16 BLANDFORD SQUARE, N.W., _Monday_.