Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE PUBLISHER "BASELY CRUEL." 295
The lad had better call as late to-night as possible—say
eleven—as I have done nothing to Abion—after flinging aside
as much as would make a good many pages, written on various
points, all inapplicable, I fear, and useless.
It is true that I willingly enough agreed to add what I could
to the Abion article, and it is true that in saying so I said a
very foolish thing : for I knew that I was saying what is rarely
possible to be done—at least by me. I do not believe you
yourself know what is wanted to his article, but merely have a
vague idea that it might be much better. No doubt it will or
may be a disappointment that I have not done that, whatever it
may be ; but there is no blame on my part, for the simple
truth is that I cannot, and there is an end of it.
Perhaps it would be better to leave me 24 pages at the
beginning, and make Abion to follow. I shall also say here,
mildly but firmly, that in future, in case of any disappointment
arising to you from any delay on my part, you must not speak
in the manner you sometimes choose to assume towards me, as
for instance on Friday. You may mean a thing, nay, you may
think it, all right ; but / do not, and as my manner is always
courteous to all men, I cannot at all like yours on such occa-
sions : and whether I am reasonable or unreasonable, I repeat,
in the most friendly temper of mind, that you must consider
what I now write, and not suffer me to leave your shop with
the feeling that you have become basely cruel. There is no use
in your saying a single word to me on the subject. I do not
believe you will take any blame to yourself for your manner,
but that you will think me in the wrong. Be it so : but I am
getting older every day, and such things are offensive to me in
a degree, perhaps more than should be. We have neither of
us any reason to doubt the other's esteem ; but as I know that
I am entitled always to politeness, I wish you to consider what
I now say, for whether I am right or wrong I feel as I say, and
I have made up my mind to stay away at all times when I feel
your manners to be unpleasant.
Finally this particular business seems to have ended
well enough, for we hear in another note that the