New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER.
~ FORD MADOX HUEFFER


the three, l don't think it the worst of the
places I've 90 far filled" You remember,
used to say could never bear to have charge of
an invalid and then. Immediately afterward'
father had his stroke. Poor dear-how good he
was! Now I've got an invalid to take care OIL
Ny goodness II l were diligent in my
charge as I was then, there would be no time Tor
me to write the long letters delight in
What / most need is a small, coSey room 10
write them in. Everything here is on such
large scale. One seems to form a small In
habted oasis round one in any room one hap
pens to be IN If only you could see me reading
to Mrs Hannibal in the drawing room after tea
There's great white rug before the fireplace,
like a raft, on which Mrs Hannibal and set
our chairs-hers hooded armchair, draught-
proof, as we'll as may be in these caverns; mine
a small armless cane-char proper to one OF my
dependent condition. Between us, but still on
the raft, stands a little round table. decorated
with silver branch candlestick and seven
medicine phials All around a shadowy vast
ness
NV bedroom from the window-seat of which
write is as vast room as any other. When
lie In bed in vast four poster wonder there
aren't dusty ostrich plumes at the head Of each
mahogany Pillar daren't move an inch after
I've warmed my small lair, for Oh. the iciness
Of the rest Of that world Of sheets
Sometimes | have to move. nevertheless, for
Mrs Hannibal is.an invalid Of a class that needs
attention in the nighttime AS a matter OF fact,
sleep with a silk cord attached to my wrist
This passes through the keyhole Of the COM
munication door between our respective bed
rooms. I think Mrs. Hannibal must have read
Of this device; have an idea that have
Fortunately Mrs. Hannibal horrible name; it
is always In ones ears here!-sleeps as soundly
~ do. and has only once availed herself OF the
means OF disturbance. Her complaint. should
say, 10 Of the nature Of vapors or megrlms, or
whatever the old word She does nothing
whatever. except that. on occasions, she taxes
medicines: but even this engrossing habit does
not rise to the level Of an occupation with her'
II Is impossible to think Of her otherwise than as
sitting in a chair. | believe she once drove out
in a pony chaise. She doesn't knit she doesn I
read, she does nothing. | measure out her medi-
cine whenever she wishes for IT, In the after
noon read to her. in the evening play Patience
to her. she is too dignifed to finger the cards
herself.
AS to my social status. you remember how
gloomily you used to talk about IT, but it actu-
ally troubles no one-myself least Of all AT
other places you know how different it was; at
tho Pringles' l used to have all my meals in the
children's room; at the SINNERS | slept among
lumber and was set down twice day by each
Of the family But it is not so here. Mrs. Han
nbal doesn't treat me with any disdain-per-
haps because | minister to her maladies; the
servants do whatever | ask them to; there are
no visitors. 1 don't believe any one has ever
driven up the long avenue since it was planted
in honor Of George the Thirds Jubilee. l have
hoard it cold that Mr.. Hannibal Mrs H.'s
nephew-has number OF guests during the
shooting season, and at the end of this month
there is to be a hunt breakfast. But such
occasions Mrs Hannibal avoids the draughts
by enshrining herself in her own suite Of rooms
made a curious mistake about Mr.. Eustact
Hannibal 1t possesses the elements of comedy
but it makes stop dead whenever | think
about it. | shall incorporate it in a novel ont
day-in one of those golden days when | shall
nave leisure to write. and you have passed the
last OF those endless examinations. How
ever
don't know why should have taken an lin
stinctive dislike" to young Mr. Hannibal. 1t is
disagreeable to consider that one is capable Of
such irrationality ! came TO Risings prepared
to detest the whole aristocratic menage, but
found 1t impossible to do anything but love the
beautiful old place itself. and gratuitously fool
ish to dislike Mrs. Hannibal or the butler or the
housekeeper Therefore. when Mr. Hanniba
lounged in to lunch one day. | showcred my
hatred on him. figured myself to myself as tn,
meek and harmless govern,s who is the prey o
the insolent Of the house. OF course.
couldn't go for long thinking Of my self. bu
him wrote down oaf and read insoence into al
his actions and words. which were few enough.
can't say that he has hitherto mOcstcd me will
unuelcnrne affenfinns [ hnard snid IN