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<title>Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock
Craik</persName> to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben
Mulock</persName>, <date from-custom="--10-14" to-custom="--10-23">14–23
October</date>
<supplied resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah"><date when="1860"
>1860</date></supplied>.</title>
<author ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock Craik</author>
<editor ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BourrierKaren">Karen Bourrier</editor>
<sponsor>
<orgName>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</orgName>
</sponsor>
<sponsor>University of Calgary</sponsor>
<principal>Karen Bourrier</principal>
<respStmt>
<resp>Transcription <date when="2017-06">June 2017</date> by</resp>
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Hannah Anderson</persName>
</respStmt>
<respStmt>
<resp>Proofing of transcription <date from="2017-06" to="2017-07">June–July
2017</date> by </resp>
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Kailey Fukushima</persName>
</respStmt>
<respStmt>
<resp>TEI encoding <date when="2017-06">June 2017</date> by</resp>
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Hannah Anderson</persName>
</respStmt>
<respStmt>
<resp>Proofing of TEI encoding <date from="2017-06" to="2017-07">June–July
2017</date> by </resp>
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Kailey Fukushima</persName>
</respStmt>
</titleStmt>
<editionStmt>
<edition> First digital edition in TEI, date: <date when="2017-07">July 2017.</date>
P5. </edition>
</editionStmt>
<publicationStmt>
<authority>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</authority>
<pubPlace>Calgary, Alberta, Canada</pubPlace>
<date>2017</date>
<availability>
<p>Reproduced by courtesy of the <placeName>University of California at Los
Angeles </placeName>.</p>
<licence>Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
Unported License</licence>
</availability>
</publicationStmt>
<seriesStmt>
<title>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</title>
</seriesStmt>
<sourceDesc>
<msDesc>
<msIdentifier>
<institution>University of California at Los Angeles</institution>
<repository>Charles E. Young Research Library</repository>
<collection>Mulock Family Papers</collection>
<idno>846</idno>
</msIdentifier>
<head>Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock
Craik</persName> to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben
Mulock</persName>, <date from-custom="--10-14" to-custom="--10-23">14–23
October</date>
<supplied resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah"><date when="1860"
>1860</date></supplied>.</head>
<additional>
<adminInfo>
<note>Box 1, Folder 8</note>
</adminInfo>
</additional>
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</sourceDesc>
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<encodingDesc>
<editorialDecl>
<p> Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as
accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the
manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts,
abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are
hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik
uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard
Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not
encoded. </p>
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<pb n="1"/>
<body>
<div type="letter">
<opener>
<dateline><date when="1860-10-14">Sunday <choice>
<abbr>Oct</abbr>
<expan>October</expan>
</choice> 14<hi rend="superscript">th</hi></date>
<lb/><placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName>
</dateline><lb/><salute>My dearest <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">boy</rs></salute>
</opener>
<p> – The usual interval between breakfast & church, which you get the benefit
of. I have had a busy week – clearing off odds & ends of work before I
settle to my long story. Once or twice I have seen <placeName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ValeLodge">Vale Lodge</placeName> people – &
once or twice <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura" cert="medium"
>Laura</persName> & <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissMontgomery"
>Miss Montgomery.</persName> I have been to <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson's</persName> nearly every
day. – The abscess is going on all right – but she suffers extremely.<anchor
xml:id="n1"/> You will understand from your boils how bad it is. – <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinCurtiss"><choice>
<sic>Curtis</sic>
<reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Curtiss</reg>
</choice></persName> doctors her – & is so kind & good – it's
wonderful. She has greatly improved they say – & sure there was need for it.
They always ask so kindly after you – & so does everybody. I am afraid your
grand plan of coming home to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#England"
>England</placeName> as a "stranger" will never succeed. – unless you come
disguised: for everybody has the kindest feeling towards you. I have had letters
from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottAlbert">Albert</persName> &
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottClara">Clara</persName> asking about
you. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottAlbert">Albert</persName> has been
out of health for months – poor fellow! – It's pitiful how much he suffers &
how he works <choice>
<abbr>thro'</abbr>
<expan>through</expan>
</choice> it all – 3 weeks lately at <placeName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Llandudno">Llandudno</placeName> did him good, but
when he got home he fell ill again. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottClara"
>Clara</persName> is having a fourth baby in Spring. She is particularly
weak however. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellHorace">Horace</persName>
has had typhus fever – & <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellSydney"
>Sydney</persName> too has been ill. Indeed <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName>
<mod type="subst"><del rend="overwrite">said</del><add>says</add></mod> all the
time of their stay at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Llandudno"
>Llandudno</placeName> they have had nothing but ill news. They are obliged
to remain there still – <rs type="org" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Dobell">all
<placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">"Detmore"</placeName></rs> –
besides <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellHorace #DobellElizabethMary">the Horaces</rs>
have gone to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">Detmore</placeName> for
change of air. I have only heard from <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellClarence">Clarence</persName> – who seems
flourishing – making studies for his picture but probably <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellNora">Nora</persName> or <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellMary">Alice</persName> will write next week –
they now & then give me a long letter – & then stop for two months.
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> &
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> are gone to
join their parents at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Southend"
>Southend</placeName> – I went in the evening before they left & thought
they both look wickedly ill: but <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
>Marian</persName> I suppose had been fretting <pb n="2"/>about <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellSydney">Sydney</persName> – & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> I know has been
bothered out of her life with some family row – probably <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellWilliam">William</persName> & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLovellWilliam">Fanny.</persName> Which has made
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMaria">Mrs. Lovell</persName>
nervous to the last degree. O why will people fight about nothing – But I feel
sorry to my heart for <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna"
>Min</persName> – she is getting quite a worn old-maidish face at times –
& I am sure it is just with the incessant worries of home. How people can
bother one another – with the very best intentions! – <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissCoates">Emily Coates</persName> I took a walk
with yesterday – good soul. – She is busy with the <placeName
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HowlingWilderness">Howling
Wilderness</placeName>. She & <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Jameses"
>the <choice>
<sic>James</sic>
<reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Jameses</reg>
</choice></orgName> seem all right & happy – so their affairs are
everybody's business but their own. Certainly there can be no doubt she is
excessively fond of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames"
>Marian</persName>. – I can't think of anything else that you will care to
hear about. <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName> is
as usual – a week of "quiet evenings". – which <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Christopher">Christopher</persName> & I spend
together. Of course it is a change after 3 months of lively large families, but
I'm quite content. I have a lot of peaches – descendents of poor "Moses"<anchor
xml:id="n2"/> – but small & sour – so that nobody will eat them. However
I eat 6 <foreign xml:lang="la">per diem</foreign>, also nectarines, with sugar –
& enjoy them very much. The two pear trees & the apple-tree are
tolerably tall – if only they ripen un-stolen – Poor <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MottAlbert">Albert</persName> – among his other woes
has had indefinite boils – how have yours gone on? You have never named them so
I have concluded their race was ended. Also that your eyes keep right – at least
as right as usual. – I was able to give <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName> great comfort from
your experience in the matter of eyes – as he had been suffering for a year or
two exactly in the same way – & was thinking of going to the <choice>
<abbr>Hopath</abbr>
<expan>Homeopath</expan>
</choice>
<anchor xml:id="n3"/>. – I told him what the <choice>
<abbr>Hopath</abbr>
<expan>Homeopath</expan>
</choice> said to you – & how much you were improved. He was improved as
soon as he got stronger & ceased working by gas-light. – It <pb n="3"/>is
curious how one finds out <hi rend="underline">everybody's</hi> suffering. I
"preached" to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName>
without end in sanitary matters – & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonMaggie">Maggie</persName> writes me he really
has minded it – taken to getting up early, & not working at night – & is
very much better. – Well, this is very stupid<anchor xml:id="n4"/> – & so
goodbye – for I must get ready for Church.</p>
<p>Evening I return to my letter to put in a <mod type="subst"><del
rend="strikethrough">joke</del><add place="above">riddle</add></mod>
which <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HerfordLaura">Laura</persName>
particularly wishes communicated to you – as she thinks it <mod type="subst"
><del rend="strikethrough">bad</del><add place="above">good</add></mod>
enough for you to appreciate. "What are the <add place="above">degrees of</add>
compar<mod type="subst"><del rend="overwrite">isons</del><add place="inline"
>atives</add></mod>
<mod type="subst"><del rend="strikethrough">of</del><add place="above"
>on</add></mod> a Lawyer's <add place="above">career</add> – First he gets
on – then he gets <hi rend="underline"><choice>
<sic>honor</sic>
<reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">honour</reg>
</choice></hi> – then he gets <hi rend="underline">honest</hi>!!!" She &
the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Ziepel">Ziepels</orgName> came in &
stopped tea in the usual way – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrZiepel">Mr.
Z</persName> played <foreign xml:lang="ge">Liedes</foreign><anchor
xml:id="n5"/> – & he looked over your <choice>
<abbr>Phos</abbr>
<expan>Photographs</expan>
</choice>. Then I have been playing alone by myself <choice>
<abbr>till</abbr>
<expan>until</expan>
</choice> 11. P.M. – I always miss you of a <date>Sunday</date>. I shall never
get used to it. & it's no use trying. A year hasn't made it any better –
& its just a year today since the first <date>Sunday</date> you were away. –
After lunch I went to see <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane"
>Jane</persName> – which was very sad – besides her illness or rather I
think because of it, she has got into a state of religious melancholy – and
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> doesn't
know what to do with her – Her state of despair at her own weakness poor dear –
is quite pitiful – because she thinks she does not bear her illness as she ought
– She will read none but religious books – & thinks of nothing else. –
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> is so
patient with her & so devoted to her – it is quite beautiful. I promised to
put aside work & spend tomorrow morning with <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> & see what I can do
– but it's little anybody can do but cheer & amuse her, & prevent her
thinking of herself – The abscesses are going on all right – They must take
their time. There seems so much illness & trouble about – that I feel
frightened of hearing more ill news of you – especially as the hot season is
coming on – it seems sometimes bad enough that I must be probing after other
such talk while you are left to be looked after by strangers – yet you keep
telling me <gap reason="illegible" quantity="2" unit="word"/><pb n="4"/>much
better you like strangers – so it's no use minding. – It is one of the sad
inevitables of life. – I hope however in spite of my fidgets you are well &
happy – & getting all you want – or a good deal of it. God bless you – <rs
type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my boy</rs>. Goodnight.</p>
<p><date when="1860-10-21">Sunday 21</date>. I hope to get a French mail letter
tomorrow morning. – Yesterday came out in <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#IllustratedNews">the News</title> 2 <choice>
<abbr>Phos</abbr>
<expan>Photographs</expan>
</choice> of the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Brazil">Brazil</placeName>
rail – with short notice & your name as large as life, as the Photographer
to the railway. I can't say they are very well engraved – but one of them looks
pretty well – you will get the paper by the regular mail – <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith">Harvey</persName> may come tonight &
then I'll tell you more. I have had a quiet week – working hard. There was some
mistake made by <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacleodNorman">Dr.
Macleod</persName> in the <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#GoodWords">Good
Words</title> offer – they will not give <measure type="currency"
>£1000</measure> except with right of reprint – So <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacleodNorman">Dr. Macleod</persName> rushed over
for a day & we talked it over & settled it – <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#GoodWords">"Good Words"</title> pays me <measure
type="currency">£5</measure> per page – which will come to <measure
type="currency">£400</measure> – or <measure type="currency">£500</measure>
if I like to make it so long. & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry">Mr. Blackett</persName> gives for the
first edition if 2 <choice>
<abbr>vols</abbr>
<expan>volumes</expan>
</choice>: <measure type="currency">£500</measure> – & half profits
afterwards as usual. – I have begun the tale – its title is <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MistressAndMaid">"A Noble Woman"</title>. – The
story is purely imaginary – but the character my poor <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bessy">Bessy</persName> without any alteration. – It
will be six months work – but I am well & wish to work while I can – on
<date when="1860-10-16">Tuesday</date> I heard from <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</persName> & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FulfordWilliam">Major Fulford</persName> – he has
got his free discharge & goes out tomorrow – to lodgings in <placeName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stafford">Stafford</placeName> – thence he intends
to go to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Killarney">Killarney</placeName>. I
have written saying that I will send him <measure type="currency">£4</measure>
per month instead of <measure type="currency">£3</measure> – & that I can do
no more – & that I do <hi rend="underline">not</hi> wish him to come to
<placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood">Wildwood</placeName> – as it
would hinder my work, & if I do not work I cannot keep either him or myself.
This makes it his interest to keep away – which is the sole hold I have over
him. – I am quite convinced by his late letters that to deal with him by means
of any spark of affection or generosity is utterly out of the question. – it
isn't in him – you might as well appeal to a stone. He has lived all his life
utterly for himself – & sees nothing in the whole world <hi rend="underline"
>but</hi> himself. I hear <choice>
<abbr>thro</abbr>
<expan>through</expan>
</choice>
<rs type="person">the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Fulfords"
>Fulford's</orgName> governess</rs> whose sister <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie">Annie Miers</persName> knows that there
was lately an awful row between <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas"
>Papa</persName> & some person in the prison, in which <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa's</persName> behaviour they say,
could only be accounted for by his mind being not right. <pb n="5"/>but as
neither he nor the <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FulfordWilliam"
>Major</persName> have named this – of course I take no notice of it. Of
course I shall live in perpetual fear now of some awful fuss occurring – or if
his appearing at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wildwood"
>Wildwood</placeName> – sometimes it turns me perfectly sick: but I shall
get used to it – & anything is better than having him constantly here. I
shall never try that idea again. – His coming out will at least end the bad
choices that have gone about concerning me. & anything he does to "disgrace
the family" must just be borne. – Poor <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockEliza">Aunt Eliza</persName> – she takes it
quietly & hoping he will not come out after all – I have not the heart to
tell her he <hi rend="underline">is</hi> out. – I spent a morning with <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson</persName> & heard a few
"trifles" about <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinCurtiss"><choice>
<sic>Curtis</sic>
<reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Curtiss</reg>
</choice></persName> – Oh how selfish men can be – He gets <measure
type="currency">£1200</measure> a year – & <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinMatilda">his mother</rs> & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinHannah">Hannah</persName> live upon <measure
type="currency">£120</measure> – & he hardly helps them at all –
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MartinFrances">Fanny</persName> has to do
it. – & she does, nobly. – With all that, they adore him, & now he is
going out next week to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Africa"
>Africa</placeName> are breaking their hearts for him. – It is a thing I
can't understand. – I know if you had been such a fellow & lost my <hi
rend="underline">respect</hi>, I never could have gone on loving you
although I might have pitied you & done my duty by you – He is not "bad",
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane</persName> says – it's
their selfish thoughtlessness – & love of his own sake – & indifference
to money. – But I do despise such a character for the bother of any soul. – the
utmost Scotch stinginess that exacts every half-penny & <hi rend="underline"
>pays</hi> every halfpenny, is higher & less harmful to other folk. –
Now I must go – as it is Church time. – It is always comfortable to go to Church
– especially when one is worried – as I own I have been by this matter of
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</persName>. <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry">Mr. Blackett</persName> was here last
night – & told me <hi rend="underline">his</hi> woes. <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHarriet">His sister</rs> has fallen into "a
low way" – & he fears he must put her in an Asylum – but means to take her
to live with him first, & try what he can do. <anchor xml:id="n6"/>– He has
terrible health himself, poor man – He is a worthy sort. I wouldn't leave him.
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> came in
afterwards & we walked with <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry"
>Mr. Blackett</persName> to <persName>Jack
<unclear>Brants</unclear></persName> & then came back & spent a
quiet evening – talking about many things – but never about you. – <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> is at <placeName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HillRoad">Hill Road</placeName> for a week –
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HardyAlice">Miss Alice Hardy</persName>
was married on <date when="1860-10-16">Tuesday</date> – six bridesmaids – 17
carriages – quite a show – all <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#NorthEnd"
>North End</placeName> tarried at its doors & windows, but I was away
with <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson</persName> &
missed it all.</p>
<pb n="6"/>
<p> – I have in vain waited for my letter – but there is still a chance tomorrow
morning, before this goes. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Orrinsmith"
>Harvey</persName> did not appear yesterday. I mean to write to him – Poor
fellow I hope he is not ill. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersAnnie"
>Annie</persName> writes to say she believes I can send newspapers per
French mail – so I shall try to send your news. – Yesterday there was a lot of
callers – among the rest an individual a friend of the <orgName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wells">Wells</orgName> & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SmedleyFrank">Frank Smedley</persName> – who came to
ask me to write a continuous tale for a new May <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#TempleBar">"Temple-bar"</title> started in
opposition to the <title ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Cornhill">Cornhill</title> by
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#SalaGeorge">Sala</persName> – who after
writing the <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HogarthWilliam">Hogarth</persName>
papers, has quarrelled with <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ThackerayWilliamMakepeace">Thackeray</persName> – Of
course I said no – wouldn't have to do with that set for any money – I stick to
<title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#GoodWords">Good Words</title> &
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MacleodNorman">Norman Macleod</persName> –
It amuses me somewhat the "run" there is upon me just now. I have had offers
contracts end this year for magazines & publications – they'd swallow
anything – poor donkeys! – but I hope I have sense to see that it can't last
& neither to kill myself nor write myself out – what's the use of making
money – & writing trash. Did I tell you <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName> has been brought out at
the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BritanniaTheatre">Hoxton
theatre</placeName> – <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LifeForLife">"A
Life for a Life" or "the Burdens of Guilt"</title>. <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrMartin">Mr. Martin</persName> went to see it &
brought me the Playbill – which is killing<anchor xml:id="n7"/>! Plot slightly
altered – 1<hi rend="superscript">st</hi> scene – the murder at <placeName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stonehenge">Stonehenge</placeName> – <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Harry">Harry</persName>, recovering, is really
killed by two choice villains – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell"
>Tyrell</persName> & <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Burgs"
>Burgs</persName>, who are taking off his clothes. – 2<hi rend="superscript"
>nd</hi> scene <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName>
going to be hanged <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora"
>Dora</persName> declares her woe <hi rend="underline">to</hi>
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Burgs">Burgs</persName>, who is only a villain
(he says) per circumstances – "I" know the murderer – Ha!" says he, &
planting <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora">Dora</persName> behind
<placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stonehenge">Stonehenge</placeName> makes
her overlook <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell">Tyrell's</persName>
confession – she reeling out with "Ha - my <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName> is innocent!" is met by
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell">Tyrell</persName> – he pulls out a
pistol – she another – & they chase one another about the stage. She is
about to get the worst of it & be shot when constables appear & rescue.
– It seems magistrates knew – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax"
>Max</persName>, black-coated, seedy, & melancholy is set free, &
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Tyrell">Tyrell</persName> – crowing he has
led an ill life & would rather be hanged than not, goes to off to be hanged
accordingly. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#UrquhartMax">Max</persName> leads
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora">Dora</persName> to the
floodlights with "Ha, my <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnstonDora"
>Dora</persName> this is thy doing!" – & a moral sentiment About the
wonderful workings of Providence – with which the play ends. Doesn't it beat me
hollow? – The admission is getting 3. & so on – & "No payment for <choice>
<sic>Sergants</sic>
<reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Sergeants</reg>
</choice> in Arms" – You may imagine the style of this. – You know you
prophesied it at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BootlecumLinacre"
>Linacre</placeName>. – </p>
<pb n="7"/>
<p><date when="1860-10-23">Tuesday</date>. No letter per French mail has come – so I
conclude you have not written. I do hope you are still keeping well: but it
would have been a great satisfaction to have had a letter. – There was one from
<rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs> – quiet
and kind – he seems pleased about his additional money – which of course he says
he should not accept – & of course will. – He asks for some more for clothes
– which I send him by return & have told him to get whatever he needs – he
must be made comfortable this winter. He lodges with <rs type="person">a
widow</rs> & <rs type="person">daughter</rs> – a little way out of
<placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Stafford">Stafford</placeName> – <measure
type="currency">8</measure>/week he pays, he says. – His letter would be
very satisfactory if his statements could be relied on: but then unluckily they
can't. – I beg your pardon. I know you will say I am "hard" to <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs> & perhaps I am, but
there is something about his plausibility which I do so intensely despise. He
tells me how his sole reason for not becoming insolvent was the discredit it
would reflect on the Father of the <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Author of <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnHalifaxGentleman">John</title></rs> – as
if I did not know that all his "sweet" letters are because he depends on me –
& that if I couldn't send him money he would turn & blacken the <rs
type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Author of <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnHalifaxGentleman">John</title></rs> in
every possible way. – well – well – I suppose he can't help it – I always write
him kindly – & never say a word that he might not print in the <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Times">Times</title>. & to other people I
just hold my tongue – having learned at least one thing – that under any
circumstances it is no credit to abuse one's father. But I cannot say black's
white for all that – & pity him as you will & attribute as much as you
will to a trick in his mind – there is a great deal in him which the largest
charity cannot set down to insanity – & cannot help very cordially
despising. – There now I've relieved my mind: but you need never be afraid that
I shall not do my duty by <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs>, for all that. – I <pb n="8"
/>do not by the way, think it is any duty of <hi rend="underline">yours</hi>. I
think all the money you can save you should save. – with a view to settling as
soon as you can find a wife. If you do not marry, & settle – your life will
be thrown away & ruined. – It is my first & strongest wish – For me, I
shall never marry – it would be simply <hi rend="underline">impossible</hi>. I'd
rather live as a friend & sister to <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName> & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonMaggie">Maggie</persName> & aunt to their
children than I'd marry any man alive – I'll just take care of <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockThomas">Papa</rs> as long as I can. – If
anything happens that I can't, you'll have to do it, but I don't see you have
any business to do it now. Your sole business is to save money, & marry. –
& the blessed change that marriage makes in a man's whole nature! – I think
if I wanted more convincing of a man's absolute <hi rend="underline">duty</hi>
to marry, & the ruin is if he doesn't – it would be in seeing what I have
seen this year in the difference between <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonAllanPark">Allan</persName> & <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PatonJosephNoel">Joe</persName> – I'll keep this bit <choice>
<abbr>till</abbr>
<expan>until</expan>
</choice> afternoon on chance of second post.</p>
<p>Afternoon – No letters – & now I must post this. – Shall send you the <title
corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#IllustratedNews">News</title> if I can get it –
& if the mail allows – Otherwise it will go by the regular mail next month.
– Anyhow I get a good deal of news in a small compass. price 8 – per 1/4 ounce.
A 1/2 ounce is 1/4 – which I have afforded you, by last French but can't do it
again!! – The communications which are to be sent next month to <orgName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Selver">Selver</orgName> &c – I'll do my best to
get you. – I think on the whole I "have not laboured in vain!" – see <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#PecksniffSeth">Pecksniff</persName><anchor
xml:id="n8"/>. The only thing that went wrong was the <date>July</date>
letter – & that <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrGarlick"
>Garlick</persName> declares positively he posted on the day I named – <date
when="1860-10-09">Saturday 9<hi rend="superscript">th</hi></date>: – It must
have gone wrong at the <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HampsteadHeath"
>Hampstead</placeName> Post Office. There has been a row here about
non-delivered letters. – I hope they have not taken my French letter there
today. – Goodbye – I hope all is well with you <rs type="person"
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs> – </p>
<closer><salute>Your <choice>
<abbr>affec</abbr>
<expan>affectionate</expan>
</choice></salute>
<lb/><signed>
<persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Sister</persName> – </signed>
<lb/>
</closer>
</div>
<div type="notes">
<note target="#n1" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">Around the end of <date
when="1860-08">August</date>/the beginning of <date when="1860-09">September
1860</date>, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Craik</persName>'s
friend <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BensonJane">Jane Benson</persName>
discovered benign but painful abscesses in her breast. She was ill for at least
a month.</note>
<note target="#n2" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Moses is the name of one
of <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Craik</persName>'s dead fruit
trees.</note>
<note target="#n3" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">"Hopath" seems to be an
abbreviation for the word "homoeopath."</note>
<note target="#n4" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey"><persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Craik</persName> uses this work to mean "dull"
or "void of interest" (OED "stupid, adj. and n." 4).</note>
<note target="#n5" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">Lied is a genre in which
German poems are set to music. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,
Romantic poems were often combined with musical compositions.</note>
<note target="#n6" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FukushimaKailey">The publisher <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHenry">Henry Blackett</persName> had two
younger sisters, <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHarriet"
>Harriet</persName> and <persName>Catharine</persName>. <persName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BlackettHarriet">Harriet</persName>, the middle
sister, lived with him and <orgName>his family</orgName> in <placeName
ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#London">London</placeName> in the <date when="1861"
>1861</date> census. <lb/><!--Ancestry--></note>
<note target="#n7" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">"Killing" was nineteenth
century slang for "fascinating". <lb/>"Killing," Dictionary of Slang and
Colloquial English, eds. John S. Farmer and W. E. Henley (London: George
Routledge & Sons, 1905), 253.</note>
<note target="#n8" resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#AndersonHannah">The quote "I have not
laboured in vain" is from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DickensCharles"
>Charles Dicken</persName>'s novel, <title>Martin Chuzzlewit</title>. <lb/>
Charles Dickens, "Chapter XIX," The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewitt
(Leipzig: Tauchnitz, 1844), 280.<!--Google Books--></note>
</div>
</body>
</text>
</TEI>
