Well, you are one of my Rewards in this world: I don't know that I can expect any better return than your letter for a year's work on a book,--and I certainly do not want anything better. In this particular case too, with a new venture, encouragement is positively a benefit as well as a pleasure. In other cases, it might make me too well satisfied with my work, and tempt me to be careless, or at least less careful....
I see Mr. Edwards has gone; and I am sorry to think that I may never see him again,--for he is in every way a man and a gentleman. Probably we shall have a book from him some day; and it will not be a common book, for that man is incapable of the _common_: he will think hard, work solidly, and put his own square-set Oxford self into every thought. It will certainly be interesting.
My best thanks for that volume of Watson.... I have a very strong liking for Watson; and there are bits in that book of delightful worth. I shall venture to impose on your good nature by keeping it just a "weeny" bit longer,--to copy a verse or two.
I sprained my foot nearly two weeks ago, and after a week in bed and bandages, managed to hobble around the university again, but I am now all over the main trouble. T[=o]ky[=o] roads are dangerous after dark sometimes. The enforced homeing, however, did me good; for my next book is almost ready for the publisher.
And now that you understand my wishes to try to do something new--at least understand them well enough to write me so very pleasant a letter,--I am sure you won't think me too selfish for being so rare a visitor. I am like a setting hen,--afraid to leave my eggs till the hatching is done and the shells are broken. With all best wishes and thanks,
DEAR McDONALD,--I have your precious letter. It came all right. I am very glad that I was mistaken about the registry-business being neglected--but I thought it my duty to make the remark. As one of my students says: "A friend is a man to whom you can tell all your _suspicions_."
Now I am going to tell you something much more than "suspicions." I think it time;--and I want you to listen, and to think over it.
One reason that you do not understand is because you are a bachelor. Another reason is because you are a naval officer _and_ a bachelor,--consequently to a considerable degree independent of social conventions of the smaller and meaner kind.