Volume Ii Part 34 (1/2)

BY THE AUTHOR OF BELLA DONNA.

Let me know your opinion as to the t.i.tle. I need not a.s.sure you that the greatest care will be taken of you here, and that we shall make you as thoroughly well and widely known as we possibly can.

Very faithfully yours.

[Sidenote: Sir James Emerson Tennent.]

GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Friday, Aug. 26th, 1864._

MY DEAR TENNENT,

Believe me, I fully intended to come to you--did not doubt that I should come--and have greatly disappointed Mary and her aunt, as well as myself, by not coming. But I do not feel safe in going out for a visit.

The mere knowledge that I had such a thing before me would put me out.

It is not the length of time consumed, or the distance traversed, but it is the departure from a settled habit and a continuous sacrifice of pleasures that comes in question. This is an old story with me. I have never divided a book of my writing with anything else, but have always wrought at it to the exclusion of everything else; and it is now too late to change.

After receiving your kind note I resolved to make another trial. But the hot weather and a few other drawbacks did not mend the matter, for I have dropped astern this month instead of going ahead. So I have seen Forster, and shown him my chains, and am reduced to taking exercise in them, like Baron Trenck.

I am heartily pleased that you set so much store by the dedication. You may be sure that it does not make me the less anxious to take pains, and to work out well what I have in my mind.

Mary and Georgina unite with me in kindest regards to Lady Tennent and Miss Tennent, and wish me to report that while they are seriously disappointed, they still feel there is no help for it. I can testify that they had great pleasure in the antic.i.p.ation of the visit, and that their faces were very long and blank indeed when I began to hint my doubts. They fought against them valiantly as long as there was a chance, but they see my difficulty as well as anyone not myself can.

Believe me, my dear Tennent, ever faithfully yours.

[Sidenote: Mr. Clarkson Stanfield, R.A.]

THE ATHENaeUM, _Wednesday, Sept. 21st, 1864._

MY DEAR STANNY,

I met George in the street a few days ago, and he gave me a wonderful account of the effect of your natural element upon you at Ramsgate. I expect you to come back looking about twenty-nine, and feeling about nineteen.

This morning I have looked in here to put down Fechter as a candidate, on the chance of the committee's electing him some day or other. He is a most devoted wors.h.i.+pper of yours, and would take it as a great honour if you would second him. Supposing you to have not the least objection (of course, if you should have any, I can in a moment provide a subst.i.tute), will you write your name in the candidates' book as his seconder when you are next in town and pa.s.sing this way?

Lastly, if you should be in town on his opening night (a Sat.u.r.day, and in all probability the 22nd of October), will you come and dine at the office and see his new piece? You have not yet ”p.r.o.nounced” in the matter of that new French stage of his, on which Calcott for the said new piece has built up all manner of villages, camps, Versailles gardens, etc. etc. etc. etc., with no wings, no flies, no looking off in any direction. If you tell me that you are to be in town by that time, I will not fail to refresh your memory as to the precise day.

With kind regard to Mrs. Stanfield, Believe me, my dear old boy, ever your affectionate d.i.c.k.

[Sidenote: M. de Cerjat.]

GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, _Tuesday, Oct. 25th, 1864._

MY DEAR CERJAT,

Here is a limping brute of a reply to your always-welcome Christmas letter! But, as usual, when I have done my day's work, I jump up from my desk and rush into air and exercise, and find letter-writing the most difficult thing in my daily life.

I hope that your asthmatic tendencies may not be strong just now; but Townshend's account of the premature winter at Lausanne is not encouraging, and with us here in England all such disorders have been aggravated this autumn. However, a man of your dignity _must_ have either asthma or gout, and I hope you have got the better of the two.