Volume Ii Part 14 (2/2)
”I send you a short story. I have made it O'Dowdish, but you shall yourself decide if it would be better unconnected with O'D. It would not make a bad farce; and Buckstone as 'Joel,' and Paul Bedford as 'Victor Emanuel,' would make what the c.o.c.kneys call a 'screamer.'
”I have not yet heard anything of my leave, but if I get it at once, and _am forced to utilise it immediately_, my plan would be to go over to Ireland (where I am obliged to go on business), finish all I have to do there, and be back by the 20th to meet you in London. I cannot say how delighted I should be to go down to you in Scotland. I'd like to see you with your natural background,--a man is always best with his own accessories,--but it mauna be. I can't manage the time. Going, as I do, from home with my poor wife such a sufferer is very anxious work, and though I have deferred it for the last five years, I go now--if I do go--with great fear and uneasiness. It requires no small self-restraint to say 'No' to so pleasant a project, and for G.o.d's sake don't try and tempt me any more!”
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”Villa Morelli, _May_ 6,1865.
”I suppose (from your silence) that you imagine me in, or about to be in, England. But no; thanks to 'The Rope Trick,' perhaps, my Lord has not vouchsafed any reply to my asking for leave, and here I am still.
It is the more provoking because, in the expectation of a start, I idled the last ten days, and now find it hard to take up my bed and walk, uncured by the vagabondage I looked for.
”Besides this, I had received a very warm and pressing invitation to I know not what celebrations in Ireland, and meant to have been there by the opening of the Exhibition. However, the F. O. won't have it, and here I am.
”I am deucedly disposed to throw up my tuppenny consulate on every ground, but have not the pluck, from really a want of confidence in myself, and what I may _be_ this day twelve months, if I _be_ at all.
”Write to me at all events, and with proof, since if 'the leave' does not arrive to-morrow or next day, I'll not avail myself of it.
”If I could hear O'D. was doing flouris.h.i.+ng I'd pitch F. O. to the devil by return of post.”
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”Villa Morelli, Florence, _May_ 10,1866.
”When this comes to hand I hope to be nearer you than I am now. My address will be care of Alexander Spencer, Esq., 32 North Frederick Street, Dublin. Any proofs--and I hope for some--will find me there.
”F. O. meant to bully, and _did_ bully me; but, after all, one must say that there is an impression that I wrote 'Tony Butler,' and as I am indolent to contradict it, _que voulez-vous?_ I only got my blessed leave to-day, and go to-morrow. Never feeling sure that I should be able to go, I have left everything to the last, and now I am overwhelmed with things to do.
”My stay in Ireland will be probably a week, and I hope to be in London by the end of the month. Let me know your plans and your places.
”I am a (something) at the Irish Exhibition (remind me to tell you a story of the D. of Richmond at Rotterdam, which won't do to write); and perhaps it would not be seemly to O'Dowd the Dubliners.”
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”Morrison's, Dublin, _May_ 21,1865.
”My movements are to go up to London by Wednesday next. I have a fortnight at least to give to London, but don't mulct any engagements on my account, but let me see you on your 'off days.'
”I sent off the 'Hero-wors.h.i.+p,' corrected, by yesterday's mail, but added in the envelope a prayer to whomever it might concern not to trust to my hasty revisal, but to look to the orthographies closely, and especially to make Mr Jack 'Mr Joel,' as he ought to be.
”Heaven reward you for sending me money! I wonder how you knew I lost 40 last Wednesday night at whist at a mess. I shall, I hope, have wherewithal to pa.s.s me on to my parish, but no more.
”The Exhibition here is really good, and very tasteful and pretty. The weather is, however, atrocious, and I am half choked with a cold.
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