THE CONFESSIONS OF A FANCIER. 47 



duction of blue-blood into their midst — from 

 henceforth they became wet nurses to the patri- 

 cian Almonds. They performed their humiliating 

 duties faithfully and affectionately. My friend 

 soon grew tired of his hobby, and disposed of 

 his stock by tucking his Baldheads under pie- 

 crust and selling his Shortfaces to me. I often 

 wonder what has become of that cherished youth 

 and boon companion of mine, for he quickly 

 afterwards dropped out of my ken. I love to 

 think of the friends of my boyhood — they are 

 my real friends still. I talk with them and walk 

 with them as of yore, and the best of it is we do 

 not quarrel with one another now as we used to 

 do then. How we swore eternal friendships in 

 those roseate, mirthful, thoughtless days of old ; 

 and, when parting, promised to write each other 

 with the unerring constancy of juvenile lovers. 

 We proved horridly faithless to our vows, and 

 neglected correspondence. Perhaps it is unwise 

 to renew it in the present. ' For aught I know 

 to the contrary, that cherished youth may be in 

 debt now, and need the loan of a few pounds to 

 emancipate him from the fetters of pecuniary 

 thraldom. He may be in a chronic state of feud 

 with his wife, would make a confidant of me, 

 and entangle me in the meshes of a domestic 



