LETTERS TO MISS DUNBAR. 323 



but then the tenant is still young, and all we think of 

 the matter is, that when term day comes, he must just 

 leave the falling tenement, and go somewhere else. 

 Even so much as to dream of his perishing along with 

 it would be preposterous. It is his house that is falling 

 into decay, not he himself. You, my dear madam, are 

 one of these young people, and I congratulate you on the 

 fact ; I myself perhaps belong to them ; but in my case 

 there is a sad circumstance which nearly balances this 

 advantage. You very wisely became a young woman 

 before you stood still ; 1, on the other hand, grew up to 

 be a boy some fifteen years ago, and a boy (don't tell) 

 I have continued ever since. Can't help it, however. . . 



How defend my conduct in the burn ? Very 



easily. Never was there young lady so wofully in 

 danger of falling a martyr to a classical association. 

 You remember the old mythological story of Venus 

 springing from the waves of the sea. On seeing Miss 

 Smith rising out of the stream, instead of thinking on 

 the best means of extricating her, I could think of only 

 the story. And I could not help that, you know ! If 

 Miss S., however, will but favour me by falling into 

 the burn a second time, no association, however class- 

 ical, shall come between me and my duty. 



' I have been thinking of your "little chamber in the 

 wall," with its bed and its stool, and find that it wants 

 only the prophet ; but a word in your ear, the prophet 

 is not at all sure that he has yet succeeded in establish- 

 ing the authenticity of his mission, and is disposed, until 

 he has done so, to content himself with the modicum of 

 honour which he receives in his own country. If my 

 Traditions come out, I am vain enough to think I 

 might venture in the strength of them as far as Forres ; 

 but to be pointed out in such a place merely as the 



