xvi MEMOIR. 



would draw with his left arm round us, chatting cheerily, 

 and yet erasing, designing vigorously meanwhile. Then, 

 with his head on one side like a jackdaw earnestly re- 

 garding something which did not quite please him, he 

 would look at the drawing a moment, and pounce on the 

 paper, rub all his work out, and begin again. His criti- 

 cism of his own work was singularly frank and outspoken 

 even to us. I remember once when there had been a 

 slight disagreement between us, I wrote to him to ex- 

 plain. Next morning, when he entered the office, he came 

 straight to the desk where I was working, quietly put his 

 arm round me, took my free hand with his and pressed it 

 and myself to him without a word. It was more than enough. 



He was, however, not one of those who treat all alike. 

 He adapted himself with singular facility to each one with 

 whom he came in contact ; his insight in this respect was 

 very remarkable, and in consequence he was loved and ad- 

 mired by the most diverse natures. The expression of his 

 face was at all times pleasant but strangely varied, like a 

 lake it revealed every passing breath of emotion in the 

 most wonderful way, easily ruffled and easily calmed. 



" His eyes were very bright and expressive, with long 

 lashes, the upper lids large, full, and almost translucent, 

 and his whole face at anything which pleased him lit up 

 and became truly radiant. At such times his animation 

 in voice, gesture, and look was quite remarkable, his talk 

 was full of felicitous phrases, happy hits, and piquant 

 sayings. 



" His was the most childlike nature I have yet seen, 

 taking pleasure in the simplest things, ever ready for fun, 

 trustful, impulsive, and joyous, yet easily cast down. His 

 memory for details and things he had seen and sketched 

 was marvellous, and he could turn to any one of his many 

 sketches and find a tiny scribble made twenty or thirty 

 years ago, as easily as if he had made it yesterday. 



