If you are obliged, as you were last year, to go away between Christmas Day and New Year"s Day, then we rely upon your coming back to see the old year out. Furthermore, I rely upon you for this: Lady Molesworth says she will come down for a day or two, and I have told her that I shall ask you to be her escort, and to arrange a time. Will you take counsel with her, and arrange accordingly? After our family visitors are gone, Mary is going a-hunting in Hampshire; but if you and Lady Molesworth could make out from Sat.u.r.day, the 9th of January, as your day of coming together, or for any day between that and Sat.u.r.day, the 16th, it would be beforehand with her going and would suit me excellently.
There is a new officer at the dockyard, _vice_ Captain ---- (now an admiral), and I will take that opportunity of paying him and his wife the attention of asking them to dine in these gorgeous halls. For all of which reasons, if the Social Science Congress of two could meet and arrive at a conclusion, the conclusion would be thankfully booked by the ill.u.s.trious writer of these lines.
On Christmas Eve there is a train from your own Victoria Station at 4.35 p.m., which will bring you to Strood (Rochester Bridge Station) in an hour, and there a majestic form will be descried in a Basket.
Yours affectionately.
1864.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.]
LORD WARDEN HOTEL, DOVER, _Sunday, 16th October, 1864._
MY DEAR WILLS,
I was unspeakably relieved, and most agreeably surprised to get your letter this morning. I had pictured you as lying there waiting full another week. Whereas, please G.o.d, you will now come up with a wet sheet and a flowing sail--as we say in these parts.
My expectations of "Mrs. Lirriper"s" sale are not so mighty as yours, but I am heartily glad and grateful to be honestly able to believe that she is nothing but a good "un. It is the condensation of a quant.i.ty of subjects and the very greatest pains.
George Russell knew nothing whatever of the slightest doubt of your being elected at the Garrick. Rely on my probing the matter to the bottom and ascertaining everything about it, and giving you the fullest information in ample time to decide what shall be done. Don"t bother yourself about it. I have spoken. On my eyes be it.
As next week will not be my working-time at "Our Mutual Friend," I shall devote the day of Friday (_not_ the evening) to making up news.
Therefore I write to say that if you would rather stay where you are than come to London, _don"t come_. I shall throw my hat into the ring at eleven, and shall receive all the punishment that can be administered by two Nos. on end like a British Glutton.
Ever.
[Sidenote: The same.]
GAD"S HILL, _Wednesday, 30th November, 1864._
MY DEAR WILLS,
I found the beautiful and perfect Brougham[74] awaiting me in triumph at the Station when I came down yesterday afternoon. Georgina and Marsh were both highly mortified that it had fallen dark, and the beauties of the carriage were obscured. But of course I had it out in the yard the first thing this morning, and got in and out at both the doors, and let down and pulled up the windows, and checked an imaginary coachman, and leaned back in a state of placid contemplation.
It is the lightest and prettiest and best carriage of the cla.s.s ever made. But you know that I value it for higher reasons than these. It will always be dear to me--far dearer than anything on wheels could ever be for its own sake--as a proof of your ever generous friendship and appreciation, and a memorial of a happy intercourse and a perfect confidence that have never had a break, and that surely never can have any break now (after all these years) but one.
Ever your faithful.
[Sidenote: Miss Mary Boyle.]
GAD"S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Sat.u.r.day, 31st December, 1864._
MY DEAR MARY,
Many happy years to you and those who are near and dear to you. These and a thousand unexpressed good wishes of his heart from the humble Jo.
And also an earnest word of commendation of the little Christmas book.[75] Very gracefully and charmingly done. The right feeling, the right touch; a very neat hand, and a very true heart.
Ever your affectionate.
FOOTNOTES:
[74] A present from Mr. Wills.
[75] The book was called "Woodland Gossip."
1865.
[Sidenote: Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton.]
GAD"S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Thursday, 20th July, 1865._
MY DEAR BULWER LYTTON,
I am truly sorry to reply to your kind and welcome note that we cannot come to Knebworth on a visit at this time: firstly, because I am tied by the leg to my book. Secondly, because my married daughter and her husband are with us. Thirdly, because my two boys are at home for their holidays.
But if you would come out of that murky electioneering atmosphere and come to us, you don"t know how delighted we should be. You should have your own way as completely as though you were at home. You should have a cheery room, and you should have a Swiss chalet all to yourself to write in. _Smoking regarded as a personal favour to the family._ Georgina is so insupportably vain on account of being a favourite of yours, that you might find _her_ a drawback; but nothing else would turn out in that way, I hope.
_Won"t_ you manage it? _Do_ think of it. If, for instance, you would come back with us on that Guild Sat.u.r.day. I have turned the house upside down and inside out since you were here, and have carved new rooms out of places then non-existent. Pray do think of it, and do manage it. I should be heartily pleased.
I hope you will find the purpose and the plot of my book very plain when you see it as a whole piece. I am looking forward to sending you the proofs complete about the end of next month. It is all sketched out and I am working hard on it, giving it all the pains possible to be bestowed on a labour of love. Your critical opinion two months in advance of the public will be invaluable to me. For you know what store I set by it, and how I think over a hint from you.
I notice the latest piece of poisoning ingenuity in Pritchard"s case.
When he had made his medical student boarders sick, by poisoning the family food, he then quietly walked out, took an emetic, and made himself sick. This with a view to ask them, in examination on a possible trial, whether he did not present symptoms at the time like the rest?--A question naturally asked for him and answered in the affirmative. From which I get at the fact.
If your const.i.tuency don"t bring you in they deserve to lose you, and may the G.o.ds continue to confound them! I shudder at the thought of such public life as political life. Would there not seem to be something horribly rotten in the system of it, when one stands amazed how any man--not forced into it by position, as you are--can bear to live it?
But the private life here is my point, and again I urge upon you. Do think of it, and Do come.
I want to tell you how I have been impressed by the "Boatman." It haunts me as only a beautiful and profound thing can. The lines are always running in my head, as the river runs with me.
Ever affectionately.
[Sidenote: Mr. Henry F. Chorley.]
OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND,"
NO. 26, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, W.C., _Sat.u.r.day, 28th of October, 1865._
MY DEAR CHORLEY,