Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

306 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD.
Cay; but from a certain feeling of dissatisfaction. . . . From
whatever cause proceeding, the circumstance of not sending
the Magazine to me as you used to do, both with alacrity and
pleasure, continues to appear to me in a ludicrous light, for
I do not understand it. When you mentioned your intention
there was the same dryness and distance in your manner to
which you have alluded: in short, there was nothing but a
slight sneer of contempt, so slight, it would appear, that it
had escaped your notice, so that you interpreted literally
words, the true meaning of which I did not think could be
mistaken. That I could approve of any such absurd or un-
necessary measure was not possible. Some reason or other
there must be for the alteration ; and I must conjecture that
it is merely that there may be in the world one General Oracle
without any exception.
To be done once and for ever, I repeat that I was offended
because not treated in the only way I ought to be, and offended
the more because I never did once in the whole of my life treat
you with the slightest approach to annoyance, and because in
an intercourse which is not merely one of business but of
voluntary acts of kindness, also of advice, always cheerfully
offered when wanted, I cannot, I will not, I ought not to
stomach anything of the sort, whether intentional or uninten-
tional. I was not treated in the way I like, that is the short
and the long of the matter, and there must be no repetition
of it.
As to anything vexing you, if it be anything serious, I can
only say that I am truly sorry for it, and hope that it is gone
by. Let there be no further mention or allusion to this subject
if you please, nor shall you ever perceive the slightest effect
on my behaviour or feelings towards you from what is in
one sense a mere nothing, but in another a something to be
avoided.
Perhaps this letter was rather too long to quote
but it affords a curious view of the emotional and
childlike character of the man, so big, so strong, so
almost riotous in his personality,—the jovial if some-
;