314 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 1893 



For my own part I have always felt that the two 

 most precious things in life are faith and love, and 

 more and more the older that I grow. Ambition 

 and achievement are a long way behind in my ex- 

 perience, in fact out of the running altogether. The 

 disappointments are many and the prizes few, and by 

 the time they are attained seem small. 



The whole thing is vanity and vexation of spirit 

 without faith and love. 



Perhaps it is by way of compensation for having 

 lost the former that the latter has been dealt to me 

 in such full measure. I never knew anyone so well 

 off in this respect. . . . 



Although I have been very much in the world I 

 have not a single enemy, unless it be the - , who 

 have entirely dropped out of my life. 



On the other hand, I do not know anyone who 

 has so many friends, not merely acquaintances, but 

 men and women who are devoted with an ardent 

 affection. . . . 



Now, all this might sound very conceited to any- 

 one who would not understand me as I know you 

 will do. But I have been thinking the matter over 

 in my solitude, and candidly I am wholly unable to 

 account for it. Still, to be further candid, even love 

 is not capable of becoming to me any compensation 

 for the loss of faith. . . . 



But it is time for me to go to bed and shut up 

 this egotistic screed to post by to-morrow's mail. 



I received a telegram yesterday announcing the 

 arrival in England of my brace of Ethels, and to- 



