Rounton Grange, Northallerton Sep 24 Dearest Mother. Isn't this an excellent thing! I am so very very glad the good young man is suited. Father's interesting letter came this morning. I like the idea of building a castle to look at a fire and think it would have been very disappointing for Attila if, after taking all that trouble, some one had put the fire out. So I hope the town burned. How awful about the dress coat! my heart stood still till I found he had bought a reach one down[?]. You wrote me a most charming letter about Venice [Venezia] and Carfuccio and mountains. Isn't it delicious when suddenly the gates of ones mind open and one sees why people did things, painted pictures, built palaces, carved statues - it's all one - and what they meant by it without needing to be told. You establish a spiritual intimacy with the community of artists, and that link once joined up the memory of it remains for ever.
I think the C. Rosen is very nice. The ship is lovely, I shall judge better of the chimney piece when the shelf is in place - at present it looks unfinished and untidy.

I went to Clarence yesterday and among other people I saw old Beattie. As he is 84 and stone deaf I think it was not unreasonable to request him to retire, poor old man. Now I must retire to my dear books. Your affectionate daughter Gertrude