Mr. Gosse had mistaken the name of the Peeblesshire manse, and is
reproached accordingly. "Gray" is Mr. Gosse's volume on that poet in
Mr. Morley's series of _English Men of Letters_.
_Stobo Manse, Peeblesshire [July 1882]._
I would shoot you, but I have no bow:
The place is not called Stobs, but Stobo.
As Gallic Kids complain of "Bobo,"
I mourn for your mistake of Stobo.
First, we shall be gone in September. But if you think of coming in
August, my mother will hunt for you with pleasure. We should all be
overjoyed--though Stobo it could not be, as it is but a kirk and manse,
but possibly somewhere within reach. Let us know.
Second, I have read your Gray with care. A more difficult subject I can
scarce fancy; it is crushing; yet I think you have managed to shadow
forth a man, and a good man too; and honestly, I doubt if I could have
done the same. This may seem egoistic; but you are not such a fool as to
think so. It is the natural expression of real praise. The book as a
whole is readable; your subject peeps every here and there out of the
crannies like a shy violet--he could do no more--and his aroma hangs
there.
I write to catch a minion of the post. Hence brevity. Answer about the
house.--Yours affectionately,