第83部分(第5/7 頁)

event　you　from　pursuing　a　good　deal　of　your　usual　avocations；　and　might　even　incidentally　provide　materials！

I　need　scarcely　say　that　to　my　mind　this　was　recognition　—　with　a　vengeance。　Charles　Longman　remarked　when　I　told　him　the　news；　at　which　he　was　delighted；　“I　would　rather　have　heard　this　than　that　they　had　given　you　a　peerage。　Anyone　can　be　a　peer；　but　to　be　one　of　the　six　men　chosen　to　represent　the　United　Kingdom　on　a　great　Empire　inquiry　of　this　sort　is　a　real　honour。”

I　agree　with　him；　especially　as　I　have　no　wish　to　be　a　peer。　Also　to　me　the　pliment　seemed　the　more　marked　for　the　reason　that　it　was　paid　to　an　individual　who　first　became　known　to　the　public　as　a　writer　of　romantic　literature；　an　occupation　that　does　not　dispose　the　British　nation　to　take　those　who　follow　it　seriously。　Now　I　saw　that　all　my　long　years　of　toil　in　investigating　and　attempting　to　solve　the　grave　problems　which　lie　at　the　root　of　the　welfare　of　our　country　had　not　been　without　effect　upon　the　minds　of　its　rulers；　and　I　felt　proportionately　grateful　and　honoured。

Of　course　the　acceptance　of　this　Royal　missionership　involves　serious　sacrifices　in　my　case；　exclusive　of　that　of　long　separation　from　my　family。　Thus　it　will　necessitate　the　partial　shutting　down　of　my　home　here；　and　how　I　am　to　carry　on　my　literary　work　in　the　intervals　of　so　much　public　labour；　really　I　do　not　know！　I　felt；　as　did　my　wife；　and　still　feel　that　such　considerations　should　not　be　allowed　to　interfere　with　the　execution　of　what　I　look　upon　as　a　high　and　honourable　duty。

Subsequently　I　had　a　long　interview　with　Mr。　Harcourt；　in　the　course　of　which　we　discussed　matters　connected　with　the　mission　and　other　things。　He　struck　me　as　a　singularly　able　and　agreeable　man；　quite　unlike　his