August 10th, 1885
It is absolutely necessary that at this point I should make the future evolution of The Princess Casamassima more clear to myself. I have never yet become engaged in a novel in which, after I had begun to write and send off my MS., the details had remained so vague. This is partly – or indeed wholly – owing to the fact that I have been so terribly preoccupied – up to so lately – with the unhappy Bostonians, born under an evil star. The subject of the Princess is magnificent, and if I can only give up my mind to it properly – generously and trustfully – the form will shape itself as successfully as the idea deserves. I have plunged in rather blindly, and got a good many characters on my hands; but these will fall into their places if I keep cool and think it out. Oh art, art, what difficulties are like thine; but, at the same time, what consolation and encouragements, also, are like thine? Without thee, for me, the world would be, indeed, a howling desert. The Princess will give me hard, continuous work for many months to come; but she will also give me joys too sacred to prate about. – In the 3d installment of the serial Hyacinth makes the acquaintance of——
breaks off -- explain gaps in notebooks, etc.