ittle, or sit up in the small parlour of the house in Willow Lane,
wearing an old regimental coat, and with his dog at his feet. He used to
have long talks with George on such occasions, and would relate to him
stories of his past life, and the distinguished people he had met. "He
had frequently conversed--almost on terms of familiarity--with good old
George. He had known the conqueror of Tippoo Saib: and was the friend of
Townshend, who, when Wolfe fell, led the British Grenadiers against the
shrinking regiments of Montcalm."

The old veteran's elder son, John, who was absent from England, hastened
home just in time to receive his father's blessing. In the middle of the
night, a sudden relapse brought the dying man's wife and sons to his
bedside. In his last moments, his mind wandered and he spoke of "Minden,
and of Meredith, the old Minden sergeant." Last of all, "he uttered
another name clearly, distinctly, and it was the name of Christ." "With
that name upon his lips," writes George Borrow, "the brave old soldier
sank back upon my bosom, and, with his hands still clasped, yielded up
his soul." His death took place on February 28, 1824, and he was buried
in the churchyard of St. Giles, at Norwich.

The two brothers remained at home with their mother for some time after
their father's death. John fitted up a studio in the little house in
Willow Lane, and there devoted himself to his art. His work does not
seem to have been very remunerative, and eventually he went abroad in
connection with a mining venture, and died in Mexico in 1833. George had
a great opinion of his brother's painting, and believed that if he had
lived and continued to strive after excellence he would have left "some
enduring monument of his powers"; but his estimate of John's endowments
may have been biassed by his affection. His love for his brother was
deep and abiding, and was not lessened by his father's marked preference
for his elder son.

The precise date of Borrow's leaving Norwich and betaking himself to
London cannot be ascertained, but it is certain that he left his brother
behind him in the old home. Mr. Birrell believes it to have been not
later than 1828, and says "his only introduction appears to have been one
from William Taylor to Sir Richard Phillips, the publisher known to all
readers of "Lavengro." Mr. George Saintsbury sums up his life in Norwich
with the remark that "he occupied his time with things that obvious