submit to what seemed to him the
inanities and boredom of admirers, hero worshippers, and others who were
desirous of being brought to his notice. Mr. J. W. Donne, who occupied
the position of librarian of the London Library and was afterwards reader
of plays, related to Dr. Hake how on one occasion Miss Agnes Strickland
urged him to introduce her to her brother author. Borrow, who was in the
room at the time, offered some objection, but was at length prevailed
upon to accept the introduction. Ignorant of the peculiar twists in
Borrow's nature, the gifted authoress commenced the conversation by an
enthusiastic eulogy of his works, and concluded by asking permission to
send him a copy of her "Queens of England." "For God's sake, don't,
madam," exclaimed Borrow. "I should not know what to do with them." He
then got up in a rage, and, addressing Mr. Donne, said, "What a d--- fool
that woman is!"

"He once," writes Dr. Hake, "went with me to a dinner at Mr. Bevan's
country-house, Rougham Rookery, and placed me in an extremely awkward
position. Mr. Bevan was a Suffolk banker, a partner of Mr. Oakes. He
was one of the kindest and most benevolent of men. His wife was gentle,
unassuming, attentive to her guests. A friend of Borrow, the heir to a
very considerable estate, had run himself into difficulties and owed
money, which was not forthcoming, to the Bury banking-house; and in order
to secure repayment Mr. Bevan was said to have 'struck the docket.' I
knew this beforehand from Borrow, who, however, accepted the invitation,
and was seated at dinner at Mrs. Bevan's side. This lady, a simple,
unpretending woman, desirous of pleasing him, said, 'Oh, Mr. Borrow, I
have read your books with so much pleasure!' On which he exclaimed,
'Pray, what books do you mean, madam? Do you mean my account-books?' On
this he fretted and fumed, rose from the table, and walked up and down
amongst the servants during the whole of dinner, and afterwards wandered
about the rooms and passage, till the carriage could be ordered for our
return home."

On another occasion Hake and Borrow were guests together at Hardwicke
House, Suffolk, a fine old Jacobean Hall, then the residence of Sir
Thomas Cullum. There were also staying at the Hall at the time Lord
Bristol, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, William Makepeace Thackeray, and other
distinguished people. Borrow and Thackeray did not get on well together.
The latter evidently felt it his duty to liv