3 Review(s)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. 1881?1888. The hope of visiting Mr. Cruickshank in Scotland was realized by Brooke in the autumn. His first letter to the doctor after his return to Bath, dated December 4, 1831, begins with a lamentation over his want of power to help his friend on in life. The Mr. Stonhouse, who had hurt his feelings by not writing, has been, he says, staying with him for some weeks, and he has learned to understand him better, and to regard his not answering letters as simply the habit of the creature, rather than forgetfulness of old or past times. I have quite forgiven him in my heart, but I never can get a letter out of him. But if we have friends, dear doctor, we must take them as we find them, faults and all, and God knows we have all enough one way or other. I will give you full leave amongst the catalogue of mine to put down bad writing as one I am employing myself with navigation, resolved on ' the schooner plan ' when I have money enough. I am not in good spirits; I never am unless I am knocking about. A few days later he wrote, remarking, apparently on some observation, I am generally a grave man ashore. I feel none of the excitement and buoyancy I do when at sea, and I, like the rest of the world, get involved in a web of petty cares and petty duties which I dislike. Nothing stirs the current of my thoughts except an occasional day's hunting, which is only resorted to for want of better employ. I never could beotherwise than your friend, and what service I could do you, you should be as welcome to as a glass of water; but beyond my esteem and goodwill I have nothing to offer, and so you must accept these for want of better, and give me yours in return. I am getting more and more violent in my political opinions, but you and I will not quarrel on that...