," the reader is left in no doubt
as to whether or not Seraphina was a Messalina (though much it would
matter, if you come to that); and therefore on both these points the
reviewer has been unjust. Secondly, the romance lies precisely in the
freeing of two spirits from these court intrigues; and here I think the
reviewer showed himself dull. Lastly, if Otto's speech is offensive to
him, he is one of the large class of unmanly and ungenerous dogs who
arrogate and defile the name of manly. As for the passages quoted, I do
confess that some of them reek Gongorically; they are excessive, but
they are not inelegant after all. However, had he attacked me only
there, he would have scored.

Your criticism on Gondremark is, I fancy, right. I thought all your
criticisms were indeed; only your praise--chokes me.--Yours ever,

R. L. S.

TO WILLIAM ARCHER

The paper referred to in this and the following letters is one which
Mr. Archer wrote over his own signature in the November number of
Time, a magazine now extinct.

_Skerryvore, Bournemouth, October 28, 1885._

DEAR MR. ARCHER,--I have read your paper with my customary admiration;
it is very witty, very adroit; it contains a great deal that is
excellently true (particularly the parts about my stories and the
description of me as an artist in life); but you will not be surprised
if I do not think it altogether just. It seems to me, in particular,
that you have wilfully read all my works in terms of my earliest; my
aim, even in style, has quite changed in the last six or seven years;
and this I should have thought you would have noticed. Again, your first
remark upon the affectation of the italic names; a practice only
followed in my two affected little books of travel, where a
typographical _minauderie_ of the sort appeared to me in character; and
what you say of it, then, is quite just. But why should you forget
yourself and use these same italics as an index to my theology some
pages further on? This is lightness of touch indeed; may I say, it is
almost sharpness of practice?

Excuse these remarks. I have been on the whole much interested, and
sometimes amused. Are you aware that the praiser of this "brave
gymnasium" has not seen a canoe nor taken a long walk since '79? that he
is rarely out of the house nowadays, and carries his arm in a sling? Can
you imagine that he is a back-slidden communist, and is sure he will go
to hell (if there be such