PERSONAL/ LOVE LETTER/LOVE LETTER: YOUR HEAVENLY PICTURE IS BESIDE ME

I cannot explain to you what I felt when I saw it this morning – it was just like hearing some enchanting melody that moves the heart to tears! Such lovely warmth of thought and delicacy of colour are beyond all praise, and equally beyond all thanks ! I cannot write about anything else today – it would be a kind of sacrilege. Your heavenly picture is beside me as I write on a temporary table-ease – and every moment I look up and see its wonderfully soft glow burning into my eyes – – yes 'Pen'! – you are – – well! I must not say what I truly think or you will tell me I 'flatter' you – but I never flatter – I can only speak what I feel – and very often I cannot even do that when the feeling is very deep – so that your picture in its extreme beauty deprives me of all language – and I can only admire and do silent homage to the genius in you which can so poetically and faithfully portray Nature's loveliest moments