Everything, nevertheless, is just what they themselves would like to
remember, and just what they would like to tell to everybody. Be sure
that the Ancient Mariner, though he remembered quite as much as his
audience wanted to hear, and rather more, about the albatross and the
ghastly crew, was inwardly raging at the sketchiness of his own mind;
and believe me that his stopping only one of three was the merest
oversight. I should like to impose on the world many tomes about The
Pines.
But, scant though my memories are of the moments there, very full and
warm in me is the whole fused memory of the two dear old men that
lived there. I wish I had Watts-Dunton's sure faith in meetings beyond
the grave. I am glad I do not disbelieve that people may so meet. I
like to think that some day in Elysium I shall--not without
diffidence--approach those two and reintroduce myself. I can see just
how courteously Swinburne will bow over my hand, not at all
remembering who I am. Watts-Dunton will remember me after a moment:
`Oh, to be sure, yes indeed! I've a great deal of work on hand just
now--a great deal of work, but' we shall sit down together on the
asphodel, and I cannot but think we shall have whisky-toddy even
there. He will not have changed. He will still be shaggy and old and
chubby, and will wear the same frock-coat, with the same creases in
it.
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