Hartford, Friday.
My Dear Howells:
Your letter was a godsend;1 & perhaps the welcomest part of it was your consent that I write to those gentlemen; for you discouraged my hints in that direction that morning in Boston—rightly, too, for my offense was yet too new, then. Warner has tried to hold up our hands like the good fellow he is, but poor Twichell couldn’t say a word, & confessed that he would rather take nearly any punishment than face Livy & me. He hasn’t been here since!
It is curious, but I pitched early upon Mr. Norton as the very man who would think some generous thing about that matter, whether he said it or not. It is splendid to be a man like that—but it is given to few to be.
I wrote a letter yesterday, & sent a copy to each of the three. I wanted to send a copy to Mr. Whittier also, since the offense was done also against him, being committed in his [pres‸ence,‸] & he the guest of the occasion, besides holding the well nigh sacred place he does in this people’s estimation; but I didn’t know whether to venture or not, & so ended by doing nothing. It seemed an intrusion to approach him, & even Livy seemed to have her doubts as to the right best & properest way to do in the case. I do not reverence Mr. Emerson less, but I somehow I could approach him easier.
Send me those proofs, if you have got them handy; I want to submit them to Wylie; he won’t show them to anybody.2
Had a very pleasant & considerate letter from Mr. Houghton, to-day, & was very glad to receive it.3
You can’t imagine how brilliant & beautiful that new brass fender is, & how perfectly naturally it takes its place under the carved oak. How they did scour it up before they sent it! I lied a good deal about it when I came home—so for once I kept a secret & surprised Livy on a Christmas morning!4
I haven’t done a stroke of work since the Atlantic dinner; have only moped around. But I’m going to try [to-morrow]. How could I ever have—
Ah, well, I am a great & sublime fool. But then I am God’s fool, & all His works must be contemplated with respect.
Livy & I join in the warmest regards to you & yours.
Yrs Ever
Mark
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:
MTL, 1:317–18; MTHL, 1:214–15.
Provenance:
See Howells Collection in Description of Provenance.
Emendations and textual notes:
pres‸ence,‸ • pres- || ‸ence,‸
to-morrow • to- | morrow
