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           Doyourememberthatweek-endlastMarchwhenyoubroughtBurneHolidayfromPrincetontoseeme?Whatamagnificentboyheis!Itgavemeafrightfulshockafterwardwhenyouwrotethathethoughtmesplendid;howcouldhebesodeceived?SplendidistheonethingthatneitheryounorIare.Wearemanyotherthings—we’reextraordinary,we’reclever,wecouldbesaid,Isuppose,tobebrilliant.Wecanattractpeople,wecanmakeatmosphere,wecanalmostloseourCelticsoulsinCelticsubtleties,wecanalmostalwayshaveourownway;butsplendid—rathernot!

           IamgoingtoRomewithawonderfuldossierandlettersofintroductionthatcovereverycapitalinEurope,andtherewillbe"nosmallstir"whenIgetthere.HowIwishyouwerewithme!Thissoundslikearathercynicalparagraph,notatallthesortofthingthatamiddle-agedclergymanshouldwritetoayouthabouttodepartforthewar;theonlyexcuseisthatthemiddle-agedclergymanistalkingtohimself.TherearedeepthingsinusandyouknowwhattheyareaswellasIdo.Wehavegreatfaith,thoughyoursatpresentisuncrystallized;wehaveaterriblehonestythatalloursophistrycannotdestroyand,aboveall,achildlikesimplicitythatkeepsusfromeverbeingreallymalicious.

           Ihavewrittenakeenforyouwhichfollows.IamsorryyourcheeksarenotuptothedescriptionIhavewrittenofthem,butyouwillsmokeandreadallnight—

           Atanyratehereitis:

           ALamentforaFosterSon,andHegoingtotheWarAgainsttheKingofForeign.