Victorian Books, Letters of William Allingham

Arthur Hughes to William Allingham. 6 Upper Belgrave Place, Thursday [1855].

Dear Allingham, — I am at length able to send you the drawings you were good enough to covet, having got them at last out of the clutches of unsuccessful photography. Writing this under a visitation of fog such as you see nowhere but here I expect. You are free of such an atmosphere I trust. Your last letters at all events have breathed of the Sea pretty much — I should think your recreation in the water is over now. I suppose an extra long note is due from one who writes so seldom as I, but I have neither news nor thoughts worth supplying the want of news. You see I am still troubled with that unaffected modesty which has always so stood in the way of my advancement.

Do you know D. G. R. (age 26) and Munro are in Paris together, closing the Exhibition I suppose, tho' I rather expect the presence of Miss Siddal (age 25) in that Capital of pleasure was the stronger inducement for Rossetti's journey there. He has been making lots of lovely water-colors lately, most of them for Ruskin — which brings me to a matter of my own in connection with that Great Writer. You remember the picture of a girl you saw unfinished — and suggested my calling "Hide and Seek" — now completed and rejoicing in the more graceful title of "April Love."¹ Ruskin saw, went into enthusiastic admiration, and brought his Father to try and induce him to purchase it, but alas fate willed otherwise, altho' the old gentleman's enthusiasm equalled if not surpassed Ruskin Junior's, I believe — and now Goodbye, if you care to write on safe arrival of these invaluable works of Art — tell me all you think about Maud because I like Maud very much and hear you do not.

Goodbye. Ever yours, Arthur Hughes.

Note 1. "April Love." Bought by William Morris at the Royal Academy Exhibition.