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always were sure of … so rich in adornment。
Let me speak first of the dedication。 I thank you for it from the
heart。 It is beautifully said； beautifully and kindly felt； and I
should be a churl indeed if I were not grateful； and an ass if I
were not proud。 I remember when Symonds dedicated a book to me； I
wrote and told him of 'the pang of gratified vanity' with which I
had read it。 The pang was present again； but how much more sober
and autumnal … like your volume。 Let me tell you a story； or
remind you of a story。 In the year of grace something or other；
anything between '76 and '78 I mentioned to you in my usual
autobiographical and inconsiderate manner that I was hard up。 You
said promptly that you had a balance at your banker's； and could
make it convenient to let me have a cheque； and I accepted and got
the money … how much was it？ … twenty or perhaps thirty pounds？ I
know not … but it was a great convenience。 The same evening； or
the next day； I fell in conversation （in my usual autobiographical
and 。 。 。 see above） with a denizen of the Savile Club； name now
gone from me； only his figure and a dim three…quarter view of his
face remaining。 To him I mentioned that you had given me a loan；
remarking easily that of course it didn't matter to you。 Whereupon
he read me a lecture； and told me how it really stood with you
financially。 He was pretty serious； fearing； as I could not help
perceiving； that I should take too light a view of the
responsibility and the service （I was always thought too light …
the irresponsible jester … you remember。 O； QUANTUM MUTATUS AB
ILLO！） If I remember rightly； the money was repaid before the end
of the week … or； to be more exact and a trifle pedantic； the
sennight … but the service has never been forgotten； and I send you
back this piece of ancient history； CONSULE PLANCO； as a salute for
your dedication； and propose that we should drink the health of the
nameless one； who opened my eyes as to the true nature of what you
did for me on that occasion。
But here comes my Amanuensis； so we'll get on more swimmingly now。
You will understand perhaps that what so particularly pleased me in
the new volume； what seems to me to have so personal and original a
note； are the middle…aged pieces in the beginning。 The whole of
them； I may say； though I must own an especial liking to …
'I yearn not for the fighting fate；
That holds and hath achieved；
I live to watch and meditate
And dream … and be deceived。'
You take the change gallantly。 Not I； I must confess。 It is all
very well to talk of renunciation； and of course it has to be done。
But； for my part； give me a roaring toothache！ I do like to be
deceived and to dream； but I have very little use for either
watching or meditation。 I was not born for age。 And； curiously
enough； I seem to see a contrary drift in my work from that which
is so remarkable in yours。 You are going on sedately travelling
through your ages； decently changing with the years to the proper
tune。 And here am I； quite out of my true course； and with nothing
in my foolish elderly head but love…stories。 This must repose upon
some curious distinction of temperaments。 I gather from a phrase；
boldly autobiographical； that you are … well； not precisely growing
thin。 Can that be the difference？
It is rather funny that this matter should come up just now； as I
am at present engaged in treating a severe case of middle age in
one of my stories … 'The Justice…Clerk。' The case is that of a
woman； and I think that I am doing her justice。 You will be
interested； I believe； to see the difference in our treatments。
SECRETA VITAE； comes nearer to the case of my poor Kirstie。 Come
to think of it； Gosse； I believe the main distinction is that you
have a family growing up around you； and I am a childless； rather
bitter； very clear…eyed； blighted youth。 I have； in fact； lost the
path that makes it easy and natural for you to descend the hill。 I
am going at it straight。 And where I have to go down it is a
precipice。
I must not forget to give you a word of thanks for AN ENGLISH
VILLAGE。 It reminds me strongly of Keats； which is enough to say；
and I was particularly pleased with the petulant sincerity of the
concluding sentiment。
Well； my dear Gosse； here's wishing you all health and prosperity；
as well as to the mistress and the bairns。 May you live long；
since it seems as if you would continue to enjoy life。 May you
write many more books as good as this one … only there's one thing
impossible； you can never write another dedication that can give
the same pleasure to the vanished
TUSITALA。
End of Volume 2