MR ARROWSMITH 99 



I find two letters written in the first part of 1867 which 

 fairly illustrate how Mr Arrowsmith was regarded even 

 at that period. Both are to my sister, and one says : 



Tell Mr Arrowsmith to send money instantly. . . . This is 

 important ; no delay can be brooked. 



The other says : 



Mr A. sent plenty of money for present needs. 



Here is another extract : 



The state of Mr A. 's intellect is becoming alarming. 



The eve of Valentine's day I drew two figures, one for him and 

 one for me. I was depicted as holding a long bill in my hand. 

 " Guardian and Ward " underneath. 



Mr A. says: "Do you think ^4 will cover it?" I reply: 

 "I think so." [Aside] " I only owe i ." Now obviously, to any- 

 one with a grain of sense, this referred to my having already 

 received so much more than I wanted for my debts. But lo ! 

 this morning I receive a letter from Mr A. I open it and a 

 P.O.O. flutters out. I examine the amount 4! Letter says 

 he has duly received my epistle and forwards me ^4 as requested ! 



Here is another extract from an undated letter, written 

 during the summer of 1867 : 



Did I ever tell you about Mr Arrowsmith and my school bills 

 last holidays ? I sent John one day to take them to him, and 

 Tom and I went to Thirsk two days after. In the course of 

 conversation with Mr A. he said : " Ah, let me see, have I had 

 your school bills yet ? " I told him, of course he had, as I had 

 sent him them just before. He said : " Well, it may be so. I 

 may have had them, or I may not I may have paid them, 

 or I may not for anything I know. Perhaps I had better ask 

 James about it." 



So on, through many letters, one of which has already 

 been mentioned in the Prologue, in reference to the 

 " Kingcraft orgy." 



In 1869 I wrote : 



Threaten Mr A. with my direst vengeance if a horse is not 

 obtained before I come back. li it is a good hunter that is the 

 main thing, as it can easily be made a hack to a certain extent. 



