CHAPTER X.

DURING AND AFTER NICKLEBY.

1838 AND 1839.

HAM: 1838.

THE name of his old gallery-companion may carry me TWICKENback from the days to which the close of Nickleby had led me, to those when it was only beginning. This snow will 'take away the cold weather,' he had written, in that birthday letter of 1838 already quoted, 'and then for Twicken'ham.' Here a cottage was taken, nearly all the summer was passed, and a familiar face there was Mr. Beard's. There, with Talfourd and with Thackeray and Jerrold, we had many friendly days, too; and the social charm of Maclise was seldom wanting. Nor was there anything Daniel that exercised a greater fascination over Dickens than the grand enjoyment of idleness, the ready self-abandonment to the luxury of laziness, which we both so laughed at in Maclise, under whose easy swing of indifference, always the most amusing at the most aggravating events and times, we knew that there was artist-work as eager, energy as unwearying, and observation almost as penetrating as Dickens's own. A greater enjoyment than the fellowship of Maclise at this period it would indeed be difficult to imagine. Dickens hardly saw more than he did, while yet

Maclise.