r the pressure of Bad Times in little Woodbridge.
'My dear Fitz, there is no Future for little Country towns,' said Pollock
to me when he came here some years ago.

But my Banker here found the Bond which he had considered unnecessary,
safe in his Strong Box:--and I am your sincere Ancient

E. F.G.

Burn the poor Caricature if offensive to you. The 'Alexander' profile
was become somewhat tarnished then.

LXIII.

WOODBRIDGE: _Oct._ 27, [1879.]

MY DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

I am glad to think that my Regard for you and yours, which I know to be
sincere, is of some pleasure to you. Till I met you last in London, I
thought you had troops of Friends at call; I had not reflected that by
far the greater number of them could not be Old Friends; and those you
cling to, I feel, with constancy.

I and my company (viz. Crabbe, etc.) could divert you but little until
your mind is at rest about Mrs. Leigh. I shall not even now write more
than to say that a Letter from Mowbray, which tells of the kind way you
received him and his Brother, says also that his Father is well, and
expects Valentia and Spouse in November.

This is all I will write. You will let me know by a line, I think, when
that which you wait for has come to pass. A Post Card with a few words
on it will suffice.

You cross over your Address (as usual) but I do my best to find you.

Ever yours
E. F.G.

LXIV.

WOODBRIDGE: _Octr._ [? _Nov._] 4/79.

MY DEAR LADY:--

I need not tell you that I am very glad of the news your note of Sunday
tells me: and I take it as a pledge of old Regard that you told it me so
soon: even but an hour after that other Kemble was born. {161}

I know not if the short letter which I addressed to 4 Everton Place,
Leamington (as I read it in your former Letter), reached you. Whatever
the place be called, I expect you are still there; and there will be for
some time longer. As there may be some anxiety for some little time, I
shall not enlarge as usual on other matters; if I do not hear from you, I
shall conclude that all is going on well, and shall write again.
Meanwhile, I address this Letter to London, you see, to make sure of you
this time: and am ever yours sincerely

E. F.G.

By the by, I think the time is come when, if you like me well enough, you
may drop my long Surname, except for the external Address of your letter.
It may seem, but is not, affectation to say that it is a name I dislike;
{162} for