f his nature:

I am very glad you were welcomed by dear staunch S------, as
I felt sure you would be. He holds the honourable position
of being almost the only living art-critic who has really
himself worked through the art-schools practically, and
learnt to draw and paint. He is one of my oldest and best
friends, of whom few can be numbered at my age, from causes
only too varying.

Go from me, summer friends, and tarry not,--
I am no summer friend, but wintry cold, etc.

So be it, as needs must be,--not for all, let us hope, and
not with all, as good S------ shews. I have not seen him
since his return. I wrote him a line to thank him for his
friendly reception of you, and he wrote in return to thank
me for your acquaintance, and spoke very pleasantly of you.
Your youth seems to have surprised him. I sent a letter of
his to your address. I hope you may see more of him. . . .
You mention something he said to you of me and my
surroundings. They are certainly _quiet_ enough as fax as
retirement goes, and I have often thought I should enjoy the
presence of a congenial and intellectual housefellow and
boardfellow in this big barn of mine, which is actually
going to rack and ruin for want of use. But where to find
the welcome, the willing, and the able combined in one? . . .
I was truly concerned to hear of the attack of ill-health
you have suffered from, though you do not tell me its exact
nature. I hope it was not accompanied by any such symptoms
as you mentioned before. . . . I myself have had similar
symptoms (though not so fully as you describe), and have
spat blood at intervals for years, but now think nothing of
it--nor indeed ever did,--waiting for further alarm signals
which never came.

. . . By-the-bye, I have since remembered that Burne Jones,
many years ago, had such an experience as you spoke of
before--quite as bad certainly. He was weak for some time
after, and has frequently been reminded in minor ways of it,
but seems now (at about forty-six or forty-seven) to be more
settled in health and stronger, perhaps, than ever
before.... Your letter holds out the welcome probability of
meeting you here ere long.

This friendly solicitude regarding my health was excited by the
revelation of what seemed to me