as not at the beck and call of
princesses. I trust it is not true," continues the writer of
the paragraph, "that so medievally minded a gentleman is
really a stranger to that generous loyalty to rank and sex,
that dignified obedience," etc.

The story is certainly "disagreeable" enough; but if I am
pointed at as the "near neighbour of Mr. Whistler's" who
rebuffed, in this rude fashion, the Princess Louise, I can
only say that it is a _canard_ devoid of the smallest
nucleus of truth. Her Royal Highness has never called upon
me; and I know of only two occasions when she has expressed
a wish to do so. Some years ago Mr. Theodore Martin spoke to
me upon the subject; but I was at that time engaged upon an
important work, and the delays thence arising caused the
matter to slip through. And I heard no more upon the subject
till last summer, when Mr. Theodore Watts told me that the
Princess, in conversation, had mentioned my name to him, and
that he had then assured her that I should "feel honoured
and charmed to see her," and suggested her making an
appointment. Her Royal Highness knew that Mr. Watts, as one
of my most intimate friends, would not have thus expressed
himself without feeling fully warranted in so doing; and had
she called she would not, I trust, have found me wanting in
that "generous loyalty" which is due not more to her exalted
position than to her well-known charm of character and
artistic gifts. It is true enough that I do not run after
great people on account of their mere social position, but I
am, I hope, never rude to them; and the man who could rebuff
the Princess Louise must be a curmudgeon indeed.

D. G. Rossetti.

At the very juncture in question Lord Lome was suddenly and unexpectedly
appointed Governor-General of Canada, and, leaving England, Her Royal
Highness did not return until Rossetti's health had somewhat suddenly
broken down, and it was impossible for him to see any but his most
intimate friends.

CHAPTER III.

My intercourse with Rossetti, epistolary and personal, extended over a
period of between three and four years. During the first two of these
years I was, as this volume must show, his constant correspondent,
during the third year his attached friend, and during the portion of
the fourth year of our acquaintance terminating with