1893 KNOWLEDGE OF INCREASING ILLNESS 339 

 To James Bomanes, Esq. 



Oxford : September 4. 



My dearest James, — I have had two reasons for 

 not writing to Dunskaith since my letter about the 

 birth of Edmund. 



I agree with all you say about Fritz and her 

 numerous brothers, the last two of whom you have 

 never seen. But, although I have been so signally 

 blest in my family ... I am not disposed to fall in with 

 your optimism in other respects. Rather am I dis- 

 posed to agree with the Scotch minister, that ' Man 

 is a mi-ser-able worrm, craaling upon the airth ; ' 

 for, both as regards the misery and the craaling I 

 am now a type. 



And this brings me to my two reasons for not 

 writing before. The first is, that I am almost unable 

 to write ; and the second is, that I did not want to 

 let you and Charlotte know all the facts sooner than 

 I could help. 



The long and the short of it is that I believe I 

 am dying. I have been gradually getting worse and 

 worse, . . . nor shall I be sorry when it comes. 

 Such being the case, I should like to consult you 

 about setting my house in order 



The photos which the children brought with them 

 of Dunskaith make me realise what splendid work 

 the buildings are, and even although it is now im- 

 probable that I shall ever see them, I am glad to 

 think that they will be in the family. 1 



1 His brother was making additions to the house at Dunskaith. 



