to see him commencing life with such confi-
dence in himself and his performances. A lew
years will do all that is necessary towards show-
ing him the truth in both respects. Meanwhile,
it is but right to say, he does really appear to
have overcome the moral objections against
these fables, although at the expense of such
liberties with their structure as must be left to
plead their own excuse, without any help from
me. Indeed, except that there was a necessity
for it, and that the inner life of the legends
cannot be come at save by making them entire-
ly one's own property, there is no defence
to be made.

Eustace informed me that he had told his
stories to the children in various situations in
the woods, on the shore of the lake, in the dell
of Shadow Brook, in the play room, at Tangle-
wood fireside, and in a magnificent palace of
snow, with ice windows, which he helped his
little friends to build. His auditors were even
more delighted with the contents of rne present
volume than with the specimens which have
already been given to the world. The classical-
ly learned Mr. Pringle, too, had listened to two

[[15]]

p014 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p015w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p016

v?