I have read your charming little story with such a keen interest in its writer that my attempted position of frigid critic has been difficult to maintain. However, I will do my best to dismiss all thoughts of where it came from, and to estimate the work on its own merits, as you desire.
The story then, is one which would be called promising by experienced critics. The plot is well conceived, and well developed; but the writing itself shows want of practice in that department, which was probably the reason of its rejection by the editor you mentioned. The early pages show this particularly. I have ventured to make pencillings here and there on the MS. to draw your attention to doubtful portions, that you may reconsider them. The last two pages of Book No 1 consist of a digression which I should advise you to strike out: and the ill?feeling between Miss P. and the Lygon girls is scarcely veiled enough. Even Alice's repentance afterwards fail