l then be with me; but had I
seen my way in so doing it would delight me, indeed, could I spend the
days in question with you and Mrs. Masson." He added that if ever he was
privileged "to see the as famous as beautiful City again," he should call
on the Massons the first thing of all, and he desired thanks to Mrs.
Masson "for associating her goodness with yours."

Apparently another letter appears from Professor Masson, but still
Browning does not receive the official invitation of the University.
"Should it follow," he writes, "I will acknowledge the distinction as
gratefully as I have done already when it was conferred by Oxford and
Cambridge." The Massons also invited Mr. Browning to bring his son with
him, and he responded:

"... So, my dear Professor Masson, I provisionally accept your
hospitality with thankfulness, and that of Mrs. Masson. For my son,
who is away, I can only say that he shall be informed of your
goodness, and I fully believe will be delighted to avail himself of
it.... As to the 'vagueness or intelligibility' of your note, I can
assure you that one thing was intelligible enough,--that you wished to
help me most kindly and pleasantly to witness an extremely interesting
ceremony, and I have written to my son and his answer you shall hear
as soon as possible.... By the way, ought I to attend in the Oxford
D.C.L. gown,--at any preliminary entertainment, for instance."

The next letter tells its own story.

19, WARWICK CRESCENT, W.

March 25th, 1884.

MY DEAR PROFESSOR MASSON,--Nothing can be kinder than all your
proposed arrangements. My son arrived two days ago, and,
unfortunately, is obliged to return to Paris next week in order to
finish work begun there--and he will be detained too long to allow of
the visit which he would otherwise delight in paying you and for the
invitation to which he desires me to offer you and Mrs. Masson his
grateful acknowledgments, being well aware of what a privilege he is
forced to deprive himself.... I shall bring the Oxford D.C.L. gown and
provide myself with a Hood in Edinburgh.

So, with repeated thanks for all your goodness, and looking forward
with much pleasure to the approaching festivities, and even more in
the opportunity to converse, believe me, my dear Professor Masson,

Yours Very Sincerely,

ROBERT BROWNING.

Miss Rosaline Masson, the Pro