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 Vitæ_, 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. FOOTNOTES {11} In _Underwoods_ the lines thus queried stand with the change: ‘Life is over; life was gay.’ {12} _Prince Otto_. {20} The name of the hero in Dostoieffsky’s _Le Crime et le Châtiment_. {37} _Suite anglaise_. {48a} _The Merry Men_. {48b} _Memories and Portraits_. {48c} _Underwoods_. {66} The sum was really £700. {70} ‘But she was more than usual calm, She did not give a single dam.’—_Marjorie Fleming_. {83} The secretary was really, I believe, Lord Pollington. {86} ‘Smith opens out his cauld harangues On practice and on morals.’