e　present　year；　just　before　I　went　to　Egypt；　and　in　somewhat　better　spirits　than　those　that　I　have　quoted。　For　instance；　one　begins　“Cher　Monsieur　le　Chevalier。”

At　Longman’s　request　I　had　suggested　to　Lang；　half…jokingly；　that　we　should　go　together　on　a　lecture　tour　to　South　Africa；　as　to　which　some　proposals　had　been　made　to　Longman。

“Me　go　to　South　Africa　to　lecture！”　he　answered。　“Why；　going　from　London　to　Upp”　—　Longman’s　place　in　Hertfordshire　—　“knocks　me　up。”

Evidently　so　long　ago　as　February　he　was　not　feeling　strong。　I　may　add　that　a　week　or　two　since　I　met　our　mutual　friend；　Sir　William　Richmond；　to　whom　“The　World’s　Desire”　was　dedicated。　He　told　me　that　he　thought　seriously　of　Lang’s　health　—　that　he　seemed　very　anxious　to　see　his　friends；　but　when　he　did　see　them　spoke　but　little。

Looking　through　Lang’s　letters　to　me　I　find　one；　written　from　St。　Andrews　on　February　20；　1896；　that　tells　me　of　the　death　of　his　brother　in　moving　terms。　In　that　letter　appears　the　following　passage；　which　on　this　sad　day　I　quote　with　pride　and　gratitude：

“You　have　been　more　to　me　of　what　the　dead　friends　of　my　youth　were；　than　any　other　man；　and　I　take　the　chance　to　say　it；　though　not　given　to　speaking　of　such　matters。”

With　this　letter　is　a　draft　of　my　answer；　rough　and　cut　about；　from　which　I　extract　a　passage　or　two。

“No；　there　is　nothing　to　be　said；　except　what　I　once　put　into　the　mouth　of　a　character　in　‘Montezuma’　—　that　no　affection　is　perfect　until　it　is　sealed　and　sanctified　by　death。”

（I　feel　the　truth　of　that　statement　today　when　dear　Lang　seems　nearer　to　me　than　he　has　been　for　many　a　year　—　than　he　has　ever　been！）

After　all；　what　is　it；　this　death？　As　I　grow　older　I　seem　to　understand　the　hope　and　beaut