their
manners, but who had little of his own. He had met with Porcupine in the
country, had expressed great admiration at his peculiar talent, and
promised, if he would visit London, to introduce him to the very first
society. Mr. Porcupine, innocently believing him, left his country
hedgerows, and took a garret in a back-street in London. It was here
that Lord Forestking first visited him, and gave him the commission to
paint his portrait.

Porcupine generally had an old friend with him, whom he had long known
in the country, who had come to see the town, and who lodged in the same
house. His name was Dobbin.

When Porcupine had made some advancement in the portrait, Lord
Forestking and his friend, Sir Hyde, came one day to inspect it,
attended by the ever meddling Mr. Munkey. His Lordship seated himself in
a chair opposite the picture, and expressed himself very much satisfied
with the likeness, declaring, that he never before knew that he was so
handsome a fellow.

"The portrait is--ah--very well, and the painting is--ah--admirable,"
said Sir Hyde; "but do not you think--ah--that the nose is a _leetle_
too long? and are you sure," addressing Porcupine, "that the left eye is
not--ah--slightly awry?"

"I have not remarked it," returned Mr. Porcupine, meekly.

"The colouring is excellent; but--ah--'pon my honour, I never saw his
Lordship wear a coat of that tint; and do not you think the hair is
_rayther_ darker than his Lordship's?"

"Perhaps," suggested Mr. Porcupine, "you would see it better in another
light;" and he immediately moved the easel.

"Do you know," said Mr. Munkey to Mr. Dobbin--they were at the other end
of the room--"Sir Hyde Jungle is esteemed one of our finest critics in
the arts? He has visited most of the great Continental galleries, and
can tell you the dimensions of every celebrated picture, and the exact
spot on which it is hung."

"How _can_ one individual be the possessor of so much learning!" said
Dobbin. "I cannot even remember the dimensions of the common in my
native village, though I have been round it often and often."

"Oh! Sir Hyde is, as you remark, a possessor of great learning. He
studies anatomy too, and is very fond of dissecting all kinds of
animals. I am told that no professor at St. Bartholomew's can do it more
rapidly."

"What a wonderful individual!"

* * * * *

"Ah! now that I see it better," said the Baronet, "I think the hair