enjoying him immensely.  Amusing myself is not the right expression, for I have been in the tragedies only.  I had not read “Othello” for ages.  How wonderful, great, and beautiful and painful it is (oh dear, why is it so coarse?).  Then I also read “Lear” and “Henry VIII,” and being delightfully ignorant I had the great interest of reading the same period (Henry VIII) in Holinshed, and in finding Katharine’s and Wolsey’s speeches there!  Then I have tried a little Ben Jonson and Lord Chesterfield’s letters.  What a worldling, and what a destroyer of a young mind that man was.  Can you tell me how the son turned out?  I cannot find any information about him.  The language is delightful, and I wish I could remember any of his expressions....  Now give me a volume of Pembroke Lodge news in return for this.  Public matters, the fear of war, the arming of all nations, make me sick at heart.  How wonderful and admirable the conduct of that poor friendless little Bulgaria has been.  Then Ireland, oh me! but on that topic I won’t write to the Home Ruler!

    Your affectionate sister,

    C.M.P.

[106] Arthur, son of Mr. Rollo Russell.

    Lady Russell to Lady Charlotte Portal

    PEMBROKE LODGE, January 27, 1887

DEAREST LOTTY,—­It was but yesterday that there rose dimly to my memory the vision of a lady with the initials—­C.M.P., and who knows how long I might have remained in the dark as to who and what she might be but for this letter, in which she claims me as a sister! and moreover an elder and a wiser sister! one therefore whose doings and not-doings, writing and not-writing, must not be questioned by the younger....

We have imagined ourselves living in a state of isolation from our fellow-creatures, but yours far exceeds ours and makes it almost into a life of gaiety.  I’m most extremely sorry to hear of it, though most extremely glad to hear that your minds to you a kingdom are.  What good and wholesome and delightful food your mind has been living on.  Isn’t that Shakespeare too much of a marvel to have really been a man?  “Othello” is indeed all you say of it, and more than anybody can say of it, and so are all the great plays.  I am reading the historical ones with Bertie....  Alas, indeed, for the coarseness!  I never can understand the objections to Bowdlerism.  It seems to me so right and natural to prune away what can do nobody good—­what it pains eyes to look upon and ears to hear—­and to leave all the glories and beauties untouched....  The little Autocrat is beginning to master some of the maxims of Constitutional Monarchy—­for instance, to find out that we do not always leave the room the moment he waves his hand by way of dismissal and utters the command of “Tata.”  I waste too much time upon him, in spite of daily resolutions to neglect him....  I don’t at all know whether Lord Chesterfield succeeded in making his son like his own clever, worldly, contemptible self, but will try to find out. Have you read “Dean Maitland”? [107] Now, Fanny, do stop, you know you have many other letters to write....

    Ever thine,