or two little literary schemes--trifles
doubtless--claim my attention.

(2) Am I going away at Easter? The sarcastic might think it a
characteristic answer, but I can only reply that I had banished the
matter from my mind, a vague problem of the remote future until you
asked it: but since this is Easter and we are not gone away I suppose
we are not going away.

(3) I will meet you at Euston on Tuesday evening though hell itself
should gape and bid me stop at home.

(4) I am not sure whether a review on Crivelli's art is out this
week: I am going to look.

(5) Alas! I have not been to Nutt. There are good excuses, but they
are not the real ones. I will write to him now. Yes: Now.

(6) Does my hair want cutting? My hair seems pretty happy. You are
the only person who seems to have any fixed theory on this. For all I
know it may be at that fugitive perfection which has moved you to
enthusiasm. Three minutes after this perfection, I understand, a
horrible degeneration sets in: the hair becomes too long, the figure
disreputable and profligate: and the individual is unrecognised by
all his friends. It is he that wants cutting then, not his hair.

(7) As to shirt-links, studs and laces, I glitter from head to foot
with them.

(8) I have had a few skirmishes with Knollys but not the general
engagement. When this comes off, you shall have news from our
correspondent. (Knollys was Frances's brother.)

(9) I have got a really important job in reviewing--the Life of
Ruskin for the _Speaker_. As I have precisely 73 theories about Ruskin
it will be brilliant and condensed. I am also reviewing the Life of
the Kendals, a book on the Renascence and one on Correggio for "The
Bookman."

(10) How far is it to Babylon? Babylon I am firmly convinced is just
round the corner: if one could be only certain which corner. This
conviction is the salt of my life.

(11) Really and truly I see no reason why we should not be married
in April if not before. I have been making some money calculations
with the kind assistance of Rex, and as far as I can see we could
live in the country on quite a small amount of regular literary
work. . .

P.S. Forgot the last question.

(12) Oddly enough, I was writing a poem. Will send it to you.

Gilbert's engagement had given him the impetus to earn more but he
was always entirely unpr