ry to buy it of this ancient Gentleman. If
they do not, he will shame them by Publishing it to all the world.
Frederick Tennyson, who has long been a Swedenborgian, a Spiritualist,
and is now even himself a Medium, is quite grand and sincere in this as
in all else: with the Faith of a Gigantic Child--pathetic and yet
humorous to consider and consort with.

I went to Sydenham for two days to visit the Brother I began telling you
of: and, at a hasty visit to the Royal Academy, caught a glimpse of Annie
Thackeray: {16b} who had first caught a glimpse of me, and ran away from
her Party to seize the hands of her Father's old friend. I did not know
her at first: was half overset by her cordial welcome when she told me
who she was; and made a blundering business of it altogether. So much
so, that I could not but write afterwards to apologize to her: and she
returned as kind an Answer as she had given a Greeting: telling me that
my chance Apparition had been to her as 'A message from Papa.' It was
really something to have been of so much importance.

I keep intending to go out somewhere--if for no other reason than that my
rooms here may be cleaned! which they will have it should be done once a
year. Perhaps I may have to go to my old Field of Naseby, where Carlyle
wants me to erect a Stone over the spot where I dug up some remains of
those who were slain there over two hundred years ago, for the purpose of
satisfying him in his Cromwell History. This has been a fixed purpose of
his these twenty years: I thought it had dropped from his head: but it
cropped up again this Spring, and I do not like to neglect such wishes.
Ever yours

E. F.G.

VIII.

_April_ 22, [1873.]

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

One last word about what you call my 'Half-invitation' to Woodbridge. In
one sense it is so; but not in the sense you imagine.

I never do invite any of my oldest Friends to come and see me, am almost
distressed at their proposing to do so. If they take me in their way to,
or from, elsewhere (as Donne in his Norfolk Circuit) it is another
matter.

But I have built a pleasant house just outside the Town, where I never
live myself, but keep it mainly for some Nieces who come there for two or
three months in the Summer: and, when they are not there, for any Friends
who like to come, for the Benefit of fresh Air and Verdure, _plus_ the
company of their Host. An Artist and his Wife have stayed there for some
weeks for the