He was living when I was here before; but, you know, at that time I was travelling with the Johnsons, who are not aesthetic, and who used to make me feel rather ashamed of my artistic temperament.

If I had gone to see the great apostle of beauty, I should have had to go clandestinely--_en cachette_, as they say here; and that is not my nature; I like to do everything frankly, freely, _naivement, au grand jour_.

That is the great thing--to be free, to be frank, to be _naif_.
Doesn't Matthew Arnold say that somewhere--or is it Swinburne, or Pater?
When I was with the Johnsons everything was superficial; and, as regards life, everything was brought down to the question of right and wrong.
They were too didactic; art should never be didactic; and what is life but an art?
Pater has said that so well, somewhere.

With the Johnsons I am afraid I lost many opportunities; the tone was gray and cottony, I might almost say woolly.

But now, as I tell you, I have determined to take right hold for myself; to look right into European life, and judge it without Johnsonian prejudices.