Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

MANAGING THE PROFESSOR. 307
times crusty Christopher, the hero of Ambrose's in
fun and frolic and poetry ; in real life an athlete who
carried everything before him, as in literature he was
one of the most daring of Free -Lances,— yet here
wellnigh weeping over the dry tone, the distant air,
the unkind manner of his publisher, proclaiming to
heaven and earth—or at least to the saloon and the
back -shop— the wrongs of his wounded soul; but
writing himself into good-humour again, and a quite
inconsequent prayer that nothing more might be said
nor any allusion made to the subject. That all the
floods of sentiment and indignation poured at intervals
—if that unfortunate man of many toils and cares
happened to look preoccupied, or the new number of
the Magazine was not sent out hot from the press
upon his devoted head, should have driven Blackwood
almost off his sober balance occasionally, would only
have been natural. But probably because of these
tragic and comic fluctuations, and the wonderful
charm yet exasperation which lies in never knowing
what the object of your thoughts will do next, the
relationship of the publisher to his most potent and
really indefatigable contributor was always as attrac-
tive as it was faithful and true. It was said that
nobody but Mr Blackwood could manage the Pro-
fessor ; but the ofiice was not a sinecure. It was one
that required constant attention, watchfulness, and a
great patience. I regret that the letters written in
answer to these are not to be found ; but perhaps it is
really more expressive of Blackwood's attitude that
he should here say nothing in reply to such objurgations
and complaints. The accuser has it all his own
way ;
but in his flurry gives a great advantage to the
—