
I am so much occupied with the meter and a lot of other things including work on our
W. W. book that I can not write as often as I shd like—but you will
be far away wrong if you think there is any other reason
for my comparative silence. But something has gone wrong with the Smiths and I may as well tell you first as last.
Neither they nor the Costelloes have asked me to visit them and when I dined
at the Costelloes on Friday and gave Mrs C. your messages to her and the Smiths she never answered me and never asked
a question about you. But do not let all this worry you, dear Walt,—there are a few of us left and we will
be a legion when the right time comes. My only feeling in the matter is one of intense curiousity.
Why shd they shift about in this weathercock fashion? At Bolton I saw a letter from Mr Smith
to Johnston
thanking J. for his "notes" and
in that letter he expressed himself
as being very much your friend. Why should he write to J. that way if he had ceased to be your friend? J. is a stranger
to Mr. S & he had no temptation as far as I can see, to pretend anything to him. I have had some talk with H. B. Forman
(I am writing from his home) on the subject. (F. is your friend through & through) & he thinks that
Mrs S. & Mr Costelloe
are responsible for the coolness—be this
as it may the coolness itself is a solid fact. I have not so far accomplished anything in meter matters but the parties who
are looking into it seem much interested—I may do something yet before I leave England or I may only pave the way for future business.
Give my love to Horace and say to him that I will write him soon.—My trip is agreeing with me and I am as well and hearty
as possible

P.S. your card of 14th is this moment to hand am well pleased that you seem to keep about the same—no worse I judge anyhow—Give my love to Horace—will write him soon but I tell you I am pretty busy!
RMB
