Letter LII

Well, I demanded there and then to be shown the subject of so much
romance and adventure: and had the satisfaction of mending it, he
sitting by in his shirt-sleeves the while, and watching delighted and
without craven apologies.

I notice it is not his own set he is ashamed of, but only the moneyed,
high-sniffing servant-class who have no understanding for honorable
poverty: and to be misunderstood pricks him in the thinnest of thin
places.

He told me also that he brought only three white ties to last him for
seven days: and that Graves placed them out in order of freshness and
cleanliness night after night:--first three new ones consecutively, then
three once worn. After that, on the seventh day, Graves resigned all
further responsibility, and laid out all three of them for him to choose
from. On the last three days of his stay he did me the honor to leave his
coat out, declaring that my mendings had made it presentable before an
emperor. Out of this dates the whole of his character, and I understand,
what I did not, why Arthur and he get on together.

Now the house is empty, and your comings will be--I cannot say more
welcome: but there will be more room for them to be after my own heart.

Heaven be over us both. Faithfully your most loving.