It  was  she  who  became  my  father's  adviser  in  literary
matters ;  "  I  am  proud  of  her  intellect,"  he  wrote.  With
her  he  always  discussed  what  he  was  working  at ;  she
transcribed  his  poems :  to  her  and  to  no  one  else  he
referred  for  a  final  criticism  before  publishing.  She,
with  her  "  tender,  spiritual  nature  \"  and  instinctive  no-
bility of  thought,  was  always  by  his  side,  a  ready,  cheerful,
courageous,  wise,  and  sympathetic  counsellor.  It  was  she
who  shielded  his  sensitive  spirit  from  the  annoyances  and
trials  of  life,  answering  (for  example)  the  innumerable
letters  addressed  to  him  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  By
her  quiet  sense  of  humour,  by  her  selfless  devotion,  by
"  her  faith  as  clear  as  the  heights  of  the  June-blue
heaven,"  she  helped  him  also  to  the  utmost  in  the  hours

^  My  &ther*8  words.
332  MARRIAGE.  [l850

ci  his  depression  and  of  his  sorrow ;  and  to  her  he  wrote
two  of  the  most  beautiful  erf  his  shorter  lyrics,  "  Dear,
near  and  true,"  and  the  dedicatory  lines  which  prefaced
his  last  volume,  TAr  Death  of  CEnane.
