'Sylvia's Lovers 1863, though I have not finished it, has been an eye-opener after the twitterings of Cranford. The sensuousness of the sailor, the characterisation, without fuss, of S's parents, the amusing deterioration of S's friends after marriage. And the wisdom in this account of old-fashioned country mentality: [quotes passage from chapter 7 of text, opening 'Taken as a general rule, it may be said that few knew what manner of men they were,' before commenting further on text]'.