About a week ago, Ruskin saw and bought on the spot every scrap of designs hitherto produced by Miss Siddall. He declared they were far better than mine, or almost any one’s, and seemed quite wild with delight at getting them. He asked me to name a price for them, after asking and hearing that they were for sale; and I, of course, considering the immense advantage of their getting them into his hands, named a very low price, £25, which he declared to be too low even for a low price, and increased to £30. He is going to have them splendidly mounted and bound together in gold; and no doubt this will be a real opening for her, as it is already a great assistance and encouragement.
He has since written her a letter, which I enclose, and which, as you see, promises further usefulness. She is now doing the designs wanted. Pray, AFTER READING IT, ENCLOSE IT AND RETURN IT TO ME AT ONCE, as I very much want to have it by me and show to one or two friends; and accompany it with a word or two as I want to know that you are not quite disgusted with me on account of that unlucky job. Ruskin’s praise is beginning to bear fruit already. I wrote about it to Woolner, who has been staying for a week or two with the Tennysons; and they, hearing that several of Miss Siddal’s designs were from Tennyson, ad being told about Ruskin, etc., wish her exceedingly to join in the illustrated edition; and Mrs. T. wrote immediately to Moxon about it, declaring that she had rather pay for Miss S.’s designs herself than not have them in the book. There is only one damper in this affair, and that is the lesson as to the difficulty of wood-drawing which I am still wincing under; but she and I must adopt a simpler method, and then I hope for better luck. All this will, I know, give you real pleasure, so I write it at such length.
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