1894 LETTERS 333 



P.S. — I fancy very few people will catch the allusion 

 about not contradicting me. But perhaps it would be 

 better to take the opinion of some impartial judge on that 

 point. 



I do not care the least on my own account, but I see 

 my words might be twisted into meaning that you had 

 told me something about your previous guest, and that I 

 referred to what you had said. 



Of course you had done nothing of the kind, but as 

 a wary old fox, experienced sufferer from the dodges of 

 the misrepresenter, I feel bound not to let you get into 

 any trouble if I can help it. 



A regular lady's P.S. this. 



P.S. — Letter returned herewith. 



To Mr. Leslie Stephen 



HODESLEA, Oct. 16, 1894. 



My dear Stephen — I am very glad you like to have 

 my omnium gatherum, and think the better of it for 

 gaining me such a pleasant letter of acknowledgment. 



It is a great loss to me to be cut off from all my old 

 friends, but sticking closely to my hermitage, with fresh 

 air and immense quantities of rest, have become the 

 conditions of existence for me, and one must put up with 

 them. 



I have not paid all the debt incurred in my Oxford 

 escapade yet — the last " little bill " being a sharp attack 

 of lumbago, out of which I hope I have now emerged. 

 But my deafness alone should bar me from decent society. 

 I have not the moral courage to avoid making shots at 

 what people say, so as not to bore them ; and the results 

 are sometimes disastrous. 



I don't see there is any real difi'erence between us. 

 You are charitable enough to overlook the general im- 



