Early Years in Italy The letters from which this story has been drawn have from first to last one burden; in them deep answers to deep; they happily are of a nature to escape far from the pedantries of literary criticism.

It cannot be maintained that Browning quite equals his correspondent in the discovery of rare and exquisite thoughts and feelings; or that his felicity in giving them expression is as frequent as hers.

Even on matters of literature his comments are less original than hers, less penetrating, less illuminating.

Her wit is the swifter and keener.

When Browning writes to afford her amusement, he sometimes appears to us, who are not greatly amused, a little awkward and laborious.