
I have this afternoon received, read, and remailed to you galleys 37 to 45
inclusive. I open and read these parcels of proof in
fear and trembling (you must go as easy as you can, you are the terrible surgeon
with the knife & saw and I am the patient). You left out my remarks on "Children
of Adam", I believe they were good but I
acquiesce—your additions are excellent as they have
been all through. I shall not feel half comfortable untill until
I have had the proof of the rest of p ii and have seen how much of me will be left. Poor O'Connor too, he had to submit to the fatal shears—but you are going to make a book of it (if that be
possible) so go ahead if we do flinch. But still, for the Lord's sake, spare my ch
iii pt ii as much as possible. I want you, please (if I am not speaking to too
late)
to save the M.S. and send it all to me when you are done with it. I
shall be glad to have plate proofs as fast as made, if I see any thing in them that
needs correcting will notify you otherwise will just put them by—I suppose you
do not want them returned? It is still winter here, lots
of snow, good sleighing,