his checking of
speech is dangerous. If all the matter I have been preserving for
various persons is in my head, packed away, distributed among the
various organs, how immensely will my head be developed when I
return to the world. This is the first time in my life that I have
known what it is to have nobody to speak to, _c'est a dire_, of my
own peculiar little fancies. I bear it with strange philosophy, but
I do wish to be written to. I will tell you how I pass my time
without society or exercise. Even till two o'clock, sometimes
later, I pour ideas into the heads of the little Fullers; much runs
out--indeed, I am often reminded of the chapter on home education,
in the 'New Monthly.' But the few drops which remain mightily
gladden the sight of my father. Then I go down-stairs and ask for
my letters from the post; this is my only pleasure, according to
the ideas most people entertain of pleasure. Do you write me an
excellent epistle by return of mail, or I will make your head ache
by a minute account of the way in which the remaining hours are
spent. I have only lately read the 'Female Sovereigns' of your
beloved Mrs. Jameson, and like them better than any of her works.
Her opinions are clearly expressed, sufficiently discriminating,
and her manner unusually simple. I was not dazzled by excess of
artificial light, nor cloyed by spiced and sweetened sentiments. My
love to your revered husband, and four kisses to Edward, two on
your account, one for his beauty, and one abstract kiss, symbol of
my love for all little children in general. Write of him, of
Mr. ----'s sermons, of your likes and dislikes, of any new
characters, sublime or droll, you may have unearthed, and of all
other things I should like.

"Affectionately your country friend, poor and humble

"MARGARET."

In the summer of 1835 a great pleasure and refreshment came to Margaret
in the acquaintance of Miss Martineau, whom she met while on a visit to
her friend, Mrs. Farrar, in Cambridge. In speaking of this first meeting
Margaret says: "I wished to give myself wholly up to receive an
impression of her.... What shrewdness in detecting various shades of
character! Yet what she said of Hannah More and Miss Edgeworth grated
upon my feelings." In a later conversation "the barrier that separates
acquaintance from friends