`Letmefirstestablishmypositionasafriend，’thoughtI，——`thepatronandplayfellowofherson，thesober，solid，plain-dealingfriendofherself，andthen，whenIhavemademyselffairlynecessarytohercomfortandenjoymentinlifeasIbelieveIcan，we’llseewhatnextmaybeeffected。’
Sowetalkedaboutpainting，poetry，andmusic，theology，geology，andphilosophy：onceortwiceIlentherabook，andonceshelentmeoneinreturn：ImetherinherwalksasoftenasIcould；IcametoherhouseasoftenasIdared。MyfirstpretextforinvadingthesanctumwastobringArthuralittlewaddlingpuppyofwhichSanchowasthefather，andwhichdelightedthechildbeyondexpression，and，consequently，couldnotfailtopleasehismamma。Mysecondwastobringhimabook，which，knowinghismother’sparticularity，Ihadcarefullyselected，andwhichIsubmittedforherapprobationbeforepresentingittohim。Then，Ibroughthersomeplantsforhergarden，inmysister’sname——havingpreviouslypersuadedRosetosendthem。EachofthesetimesIenquiredafterthepictureshewaspaintingfromthesketchtakenonthecliff，andwasadmittedintothestudio，andaskedmyopinionoradvicerespectingitsprogress。
Mylastvisithadbeentoreturnthebookshehadlentme；andthenitwas，that，incasuallydiscussingthepoetryofSirWalterScott，shehadexpressedawishtosee`Marmion，’andIhadconceivedthepresumptuousideaofmakingherapresentofit，and，onmyreturnhome，instantlysentforthesmartlittlevolume1hadthismorningreceived。Butanapologyforinvadingthehermitagewasstillnecessary；soIhadfurnishedmyselfwithabluemoroccocollarforArthur’slittledog；andthatbeinggivenandreceived，withmuchmorejoyandgratitude，onthepartofthereceiver，thantheworthofthegift，ortheselfishmotiveofthegiverdeserved，IventuredtoaskMrsGrahamforonemorelookatthepicture，ifitwasstillthere。
`Ohyes！comein，’saidsheforIhadmettheminthegarden。
`Itisfinishedandframed，allreadyforsendingaway；butgivemeyourlastopinion，and，ifyoucansuggestanyfurtherimprovement，itshallbe——dulyconsidered，atleast。’