The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08

els to you. Indeed there has not been
much secret before; and I've always
admired the generous spirit in which
you have witnessed my queer raptures
If 1 had envy, or what you call pas
sion. or a wicked thought >
should have cut you long ago.
The next of the collection in which
Thaekeray refers to his affection for
Mrs Brookfield is apparently the Sec
ord sheet continuing a letter of the
previous day. 1t is addressed TO Mrs.
Brookfield and was sent from Brighton
in November or December, 1S4S. 1t
reads:
"e l didn't read Dickens, only
the 20 first pages, not having time.
My mother did though and was very
much moved. She says there's some
thing in it will affect you personally.
Mind my copy is only a loan and you
must give it me back when we meet
next year. $" Nobody to console
me but positively the Miss Smith
the Miss Smith and the sea; welcome,
welcome thou story whisperi-the talk
OF the eldest Miss s. is almost as cease
less. | have been out to buy the
Haunted Man for the younger one, the
pretty one who made me the purse.
I have written one page OF
P-nd-nn-s, but can't go on because 1t
is very near post time. No
dear lady we will do better; we will
love each other while we may here
and afterward; if you go first you
will kneel for me in heaven and bring
me there: if I, swear the best thought
I have is to remember that 1 shall
have your love surviving me and with
constant tenderness blessing my
memory. l can't all perish living in
your heart. That in itself is a sort Of
seal and assurance of heaven.
Say that l die and live yet in the love
of my survivors? Isn't that a warrant
OF Immortality almost? Say that my
two dearest friends precede me and en-
ter into Gods futurity spotless and
angelical | feel that l have two ad-
svocates in heaven, and that my love
penetrates there as it were. 1t seems
to me that love precedes God. BY love
believe and am saved.
Henry Hallam, Mrs. Brookfields uncle,
apparently did not share the complacency
which Mr.. BrooiSfield so long showed with
regard to Thackeray's visits TO Mrs.
Brookfield. Thackcray writes
when II. Hallam spoke as he did to-
night I'm sure ne said what has been upon
his mind for many months. that he was
angry at my constant visits to you. But
thank God I have never concealed the
affection I have for you. Your husband
knows it as well as / do, and 1 think I
have such claim to the love of both of
you as no relationship, however close,
ought to question or supersede.'
He writes amusingly of a sojourn in
Paris and of the Presidents ball and the
people he met there.
And Victor Hugo was there-a queer
heather. Did you read of his ordering
his son to fight duel the other day
with the son of another literary man?
Young Hugo wounded his adversary, and
I suppose the father embraced him and
applauded him-and goes to church after
ward as If ne were Christian"
Many of the letters are addressed either
to Miss Perry or to Miss Elliott. two
sisters, whom Thacl1eray met at Brigh-
ton when he was writing Vanity Fair"
1t is them that he writes of the quarrel
with MIR. Brookfield that for a time
separated Thackeray from Mrs Brook
field and put an end to their correspon-
dence.
"'The affair is at an end and the rup-
ture complete. There is moth
ing more to be said or done =
there have been very high words between
me and Monsieur in consequence of some