1887-12-22 to Jacques-Émile Blanche

Printed letter signed, Portraits of a Lifetime (1937), page 294, 228 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

Freshcombe Lodge, Beeding, Sussex

[Thursday] December 22nd [1887]

My dear Blanche,

I received your very beautiful drawing quite safely. It is really beautiful and I shall always preserve it and value it. I do not know if you are at all of my opinion but it seems to me more applicable as a frontispiece than as a book cover. I have sent it to my publishers and told them to put it in hand at once. I think it had better be reproduced on grey canvas in black or red outline.

Will you thank your father for me for his kindness in not sending your message by telegram — I live four miles from a telegraph station and each message costs me four shillings.

You will also I hope remember me to Dr. and Madame, tell them that I often think of them and that I hope to see them in the spring.

You spoke of an exhibition of your pictures; has the exhibition taken place, if so send me one of the criticisms.

I am working very hard too hard but in April I shall be free and I do not intend to begin another book for some time.

Yours as ever

GEORGE MOORE