I had written to him of the proposal that I should do the volume on
Keats for Macmillan's _English Men of Letters_ series. From his
essay, _Talk and Talkers_, I was eventually left out.
[_Chalet am Stein, Davos-Platz, Spring 1882._]
DEAR COLVIN,--About Keats--well yes, I wonder; I see all your
difficulties and yet, I have the strongest kind of feeling that critical
biography is your real vein. The Landor was one nail; another, I think,
would be good for you and the public. Indeed I would do the Keats. He is
worth doing; it is a brave and a sad little story, and the critical part
lies deep in the very vitals of art. All summed, I would do him;
remember it is but a small order alongside of Landor; and L100, and
kudos, and a good word for the poor, great lad, who will otherwise fall
among the molluscs. Up, heart! give me a John Keats! Houghton, though he
has done it with grace, has scarce done it with grip.
I have put you into _Talk and Talkers_ sure enough. God knows, I hope I
shall offend nobody; I do begin to quake mightily over that paper. I
have a _Gossip on Romance_ about done; it puts some real criticism in a
light way, I think. It is destined for Longman who (dead secret) is
bringing out a new Mag. (6d.) in the Autumn. Dead Secret: all his
letters are three deep with masks and passwords, and I swear on a skull
daily. F. has reread _Treasure I^d._, against which she protested; and
now she thinks the end about as good as the beginning; only some six
chapters situate about the midst of the tale to be rewritten. This
sounds hopefuller. My new long story, _The Adventures of John
Delafield_, is largely planned.