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open fireplace with niched seats in the chimney corner where to rest with a friend over the glowing, fragrant logs when stiff and chill, but in happiest mood, after a twenty-mile walk, was an enjoyment that made a man 'o'er all the ills of life victorious.' Often the friend was Walter White, than whom no man knows better how to enjoy, and to make his readers enjoy, such a tramp and such a rest."

Now and again, Anne Gilchrist accompanied her husband in the shorter "country rambles which had for their goal some old church, every stone of which was scanned till it yielded up its quota of the history, as well as of the meaning and beauty of the whole." But oftener at this time, the young housewife would be hospitably occupied in their Manor-like house; immersed also in maternal responsibilities.

On the eighteenth of September, 1854, Anne Gilchrist gave birth to a second child. In a letter to Isabella Ireland (November 7) the mother says:-" We have named our little girl Beatrice Carwardine. Beatrice we chose for its own sake; and Carwardine because it was my mother's maiden name."

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Alexander Gilchrist's first book was nearing completion; and in the beginning of 1855 the "Life of Etty made its appearance.

The book brought an appreciative letter from Carlyle, who wrote from "Chelsea, 30th January, 1855

"DEAR SIR: I have received your Life of Etty; and am surely much obliged by your kind Gift and by the kind sentiments you express towards me. I read, last night, in the Book, with unusual satisfaction: a

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MONUMENT OF THOMAS DE VERE, EIGHTH EARL OF OXFORD, AT
COLNE PRIORY: DIED SEPTEMBER 18, 1370.

(See page 3.)

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THE LIFE OF ETTY.

41

Book done in a vigorous sympathetic vivacious spirit, and promising me the delineation, actual and intelligible, of a man extremely well worth knowing. Beyond doubt I shall finish steadily what I have begun,—and small thanks to me in this instance. Etty's name was, naturally, familiar to me; but his physiognomy of body and mind, and his great merits as painter and man were a mere rumour to me hitherto.

I believe I may congratulate you on accomplishing a good work, of its kind, among your fellow creatures; and it is a real favour to me that I have the opportunity of enjoying myself over it, and instructing myself by it. "I wish you all good speed in your enterprises; and solicit a continuance of your goodwill towards me. "I am, with many thanks and regards,

Yours sincerely,

T. CARLYLE."

The letter led to acquaintance with Thomas Carlyle: 30th May, 1855, a note came from 5, Cheyne Row:

"DEAR SIR: If you call here any afternoon about halfpast three, you will commonly find me disengaged, and ready for a little speech with a friend."

Six months later, Alexander Gilchrist called, and describes his second visit, in a letter to William Haines:[November 29th, 1855.]

"At half-past seven on Friday evening last, an omnibus set me down in Great Cheyne Row. Shown up into the large, comfortable drawing-room, I found Mrs. Carlyle alone (Carlyle downstairs fetching a short allowance of sleep over night), and was more favourably impressed by her than I had expected. After

exchanging a few words, as she was making the tea, Carlyle appeared in his long brown indoors coat, and shook me cordially by the hand; was from that moment to the last very kind. I have brought you here on false pretences.' Ruskin was coming the following night; Mrs. Carlyle was engaged out to a party. You must not suppose,' she had before said, 'the wife of a philosopher sits at home over the fire in white satin shoes.'

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"Carlyle was very pleased with all I had brought him; was like a wild man,' said Mrs. Carlyle, the night before, over the pamphlets. These were nearly all new to him, and nearly all more or less worth seeing.” [Alexander Gilchrist was helping Thomas Carlyle to find prints of costumes and portraits: "Frederick's Military Instructions" was among the pamphlets.]

"After tea, Mrs. Carlyle left. And for the rest of the evening (till twelve) I sat with him alone, he pouring himself out as is his wont; sitting the latter part of the time on a footstool by the fire, smoking, and looking in his old long brown kind of great-coat, as he was bewailing the pass men and things had come to, and as he thought of it hardly caring to live,-looking like a veritable Prophet, mourning in sackcloth and ashes the sins of the world.

"Carlyle gave me a new and heroic view of Marlborough and his Duchess, among other things. Which led to Macaulay and his [C.] blackening of M:'s face, and to a long imaginary address to Macaulay for flying at great men-as the canaille of themselves are ever prone to do. Come out of that, I tell you, you big

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