The White Knight
SIR,—Mr. Hudson appears to be calling up the reserves. • 1 enjoyed his letter very much, but must point out that I am not writing for the last generation but one, who, in any case, only thought they knew Dodgson. I write for those who can weigh the evidence dispassionately.
However, Mr. Hudson's letter raises points of genuine interest; and one I hasten to acknowledge. On the matter of " the shadow of some disappointment" the new piece of evidence supplied by Miss F. Menella Dodgson is not merely of interest but of importance. It proves that Dodgson did not tell Collingwood about his disappointment; I was wrong there; this will be attended to. It also suggests—I had better not say " proves" in this case; you can be proved wrong but not right—suggests, then, that the family knew (suspected ?) that Dodgson had been disappointed in love. There must have been a lady, if this were so, and Alice Liddell is the only probable candidate.
Let us suppose that Dodgson was in love with her, told nobody about it, never wrote about it in his diary, deliberately tried to conceal the fact from posterity. The fact would none the less be of importance— even Mr. Hudson would admit that, I think. But how could it be discovered, except by the methods I employ; by examining his life and the numerous eye-witness accounts and first-hand reports in magazines and newspapers; by examining his works to see if, in spite of himself, he had given something away ?
With regard to the lady who knew Dodgson well, and is sure that he was not in love with Alice, I hope she will not think me rude if I say that is something she cannot possibly know. To be alive today and able to. take an interest in such matters she must be a generation too young to give evidence on this particular point. I am accused of jumping to conclusions, but I have jumped to one about the identity of this lady, who, if I am correct, has also written to me and was not born until Dodgson was fifty. I wish her long life to enjoy her pleasant memories.
The other point raised by Mr. Hudson is obscure to me, Apparently there is a joke in it somewhere; " another of Dodgson's little jokes." In his note inviting Mrs. Hargreaves (Alice) to tea he thought she would " probably prefer to bring a companion." He goes on: "11 your husband is here he would be most welcome." He then realised that this might be interpreted as a slight on Alice's mother, with whom he had been on strained terms for a quarter of a century; or possibly he thought the Dean might take further offence. So he altered " most " to " very," and added, " I crossed out most' because it's ambiguous —most words are I fear." Perhaps the joke is in the third " most." Does Mr. Hudson think he crossed out " most " and substituted " very " in order to provide a pretext for this witticism ? .-Surely it is an after- thought, and the first " most " and the awkward feeling about it which led him to substitute " very " do indicate constraint and embarrassment.
Much of Dodgson's life-story is reflected in that " perfectly normal note "—except for those who prefer whimsical gossip. As for the " avuncular relationships," may I remind Mr. Hudson and (forgive me, ladies !) his supporters that Dodgson himself said " they were quite a different thing."—Yours faithfully,
A. L. TAYLOR.
7 Carrick Road, Ayr.
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