That prefixed to
Blackwood's "Eothen" of 1896 was furnished by Dr. Kinglake, who,
however, looked upon it as unsatisfactory. The "Not an M.P." of
"Vanity Fair," 1872, is a grotesque caricature. The photograph
here reproduced (p. 128), by far the best likeness extant, he gave
to Madame Novikoff in 1870, receiving hers in return, but
pronouncing the transaction "an exchange between the personified
months of May and November." The face gives expression to the shy
aloofness which, amongst strangers, was characteristic of him
through life. He had even a horror of hearing his name pealed out
by servants, and came early to parties that the proclamation might
be achieved before as few auditors as possible. Visiting the newly
married husband of his friend Adelaide Kemble, and being the first
guest to arrive, he encountered in Mr. Sartoris a host as
contentedly undemonstrative as himself. Bows passed, a seat by the
fire was indicated, he sat down, and the pair contemplated one
another for ten minutes in absolute silence, till the lady of the
house came in, like the prince in "The Sleeping Beauty," though not
by the same process, to break the charm.
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