irst moved in me
not to ignore them. What has given most offence in the book, more than
the story of Marian--far more!--has been the reference to the condition
of women in our cities, which a woman oughtn't to refer to, by any
manner of means, says the conventional tradition. Now I have thought
deeply otherwise. If a woman ignores these wrongs, then may women as a
sex continue to suffer them; there is no help for any of us--let us be
dumb and die. I have spoken therefore, and in speaking have used plain
words--words which look like blots, and which you yourself would put
away--words which, if blurred or softened, would imperil perhaps the
force and righteousness of the moral influence. Still, I certainly will,
when the time comes, go over the poem carefully, and see where an
offence can be got rid of without loss otherwise. The second edition was
issued so early that Robert would not let me alter even a comma, would
not let me look between the pages in order to the least alteration. He
said (the truth) that my head was dizzy-blind with the book, and that,
if I changed anything, it would be probably for the worse; like
arranging a room in the dark. Oh no. Indeed he is not vexed that you
should say what you do. On the contrary, he was _pleased_ because of the
much more that you said. As to your friend with the susceptible
'morals'--well, I could not help smiling indeed. I am assured too, by a
friend of my own, that the 'mamas of England' in a body refuse to let
their daughters read it. Still, the daughters emancipate themselves and
_do_, that is certain; for the number of _young_ women, not merely 'the
strong-minded' as a sect, but pretty, affluent, happy women, surrounded
by all the temptations of English respectability, that cover it with the
most extravagant praises is surprising to me, who was not prepared for
that particular kind of welcome. It's true that there's a quantity of
hate to balance the love, only I think it chiefly seems to come from the
less advanced part of society. (See how modest that sounds! But you will
know what I mean.) I mean, from persons whose opinions are not in a
state of growth, and who do not like to be disturbed from a settled
position. Oh, that there are faults in the book, no human being knows so
well as I; defects, weaknesses, great gaps of intelligence. Don't let me
stop to recount them.

The review in 'Blackwood' proves to be by Mr. Aytoun; and coming from
the camp of the enemy (artis