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Peebles

21st Feb. 21

My dear old John. Walter read aloud
the last chapter of "The Path of the
King" yesterday & we both wept -
and then I read it all from the
beginning & I think every chapter,
almost, reduced me to tears!
It seems to me the best thing
you have done. Every episode is
so perfect - the whole idea so
beautifully worked out - and
never a word too many! I do
hope the book will be a great
success & that the foolish critics
will see its worth. I was amazed
to read in Punch a glowing review
of St John Lucas' new book "The Plunge".
I had just finished reading it & I
thought I had rarely read anything
so poor & un-living: the
characters were mere puppets
Either I am no sort of judge, or
Punch is 'obliging' a friend