I can behave as a gentleman, and I only
expect Dolomore to do the same.'
Their conversation lasted for a long time, and when he was again
left alone Jasper again fell into a mood of thoughtfulness.
By a late post on the following day he received this letter:
'DEAR MR MILVAIN,--I have received the proofs, and have just read
them; I hasten to thank you with all my heart. No suggestion of
mine could possibly improve this article; it seems to me perfect
in taste, in style, in matter. No one but you could have written
this, for no one else understood Edwin so well, or had given such
thought to his work. If he could but have known that such justice
would be done to his memory! But he died believing that already
he was utterly forgotten, that his books would never again be
publicly spoken of. This was a cruel fate. I have shed tears over
what you have written, but they were not only tears of
bitterness; it cannot but be a consolation to me to think that,
when the magazine appears, so many people will talk of Edwin and
his books. I am deeply grateful to Mr Mortimer for having
undertaken to republish those two novels; if you have an
opportunity, will you do me the great kindness to thank him on my
behalf? At the same time, I must remember that it was you who
first spoke to him on this subject.
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