Ever affectionately
and gratefully yours,
J. RUSKIN.
(NOTE.--A legal friend remarks that in his opinion I should refrain from
printing _extracts_ from letters, and always print the whole; or,
indeed, in the present case, the whole series of letters, lest it should
be suspected that I am making a self-indulgent selection only of the
good words which Mr. Ruskin is kind enough to use in his communications
with me. Let me here say, however, that had there been in all these
letters any which conveyed censure, stricture, or blame of any kind, I
should not have withheld my hand from including them. But no such
letters ever came to me. Mr. Ruskin is the very pink of courtesy with
his friends, and he _may_ have suppressed remarks which he thought might
wound me. But I am reproducing here not my friend's secret thoughts, but
only those of his letters which remain in my possession.--EDITOR.)
34.
_May 26th, 1880._
I'm at work on the 'Epilogue,' but it takes more trouble than I
expected. I see there's a letter from you which I leave unopened, for
fear there should be anything in it to put me in a bad temper, which you
might easily do without meaning it. You shall have the 'Epilogue' as
soon as I can get it done; but you won't much like it, for there are
bits in the Clergymen's letters that have put my bristles up. They ought
either to have said nothing about me, or known more.
I should give that rascally Bishop a dressing "au serieux," only you
wouldn't like to godfather it, so I'll keep it for somewhere else.[36]
[36] Needless to say that in this energetic language, the Master of
the Company of St. George is referring to nothing whatever in the
stainless character of the great Bishop, of whom it is justly
recorded in the inscription on his monument in Manchester Cathedral
that "he won all hearts by opening to them his own;" except only in
the matter of house-rent and interest of money, opinions which the
Bishop shared with the great mass of civilized humanity.
35.
_June 7th, 1880._
Your letter is a relief to my mind, and shall not be taken advantage of
for more delay. The wet day or two would get all done: but I simply
can't think of anything but the sun while it shines.
And I've had second, third, and seventh thoughts about several things:
as it is coming out I believe it will be a useful contribution to the
book.
I shall get it in the copyist's hand on Monday, and as it's one of my
girl secretaries, I shall be teased till it's done, so it's safe for the
end of the week (_D.V._). I am sadly afraid she'll make me cut out some
of the spiciest bits: the girl secretaries are always allowed to put
their pens through anything they choose. Please drop the 'Mr.'; it is a
matter of friendship, not as if there were any of different powers. God
only knows of higher and lower, and, as far as I can judge, is likely to
put ministry to the sick much above public letters.
Thanks for note of Menyanthes Trifoliata.