Mall Gazette flying across the room
at the head of the inquirer; but blushes as sweetly, that I have very
little doubt some such pretty meeting had taken place.

What a pity it is he had not been here a short while since for a
marriage in high life, to give away his dear Barnes, and sign the book,
along with the other dignitaries! We described that ceremony to him,
and announced the promotion of his friend, Florac, now our friend also,
Director of the Great Anglo-Gallic Railway, the Prince de Moncontour.
Then Clive told us of his deeds during the winter; of the good fun he
had had at Rome, and the jolly fellows he had met there. Was he going
to astonish the world by some grand pictures? He was not. The more he
worked, the more discontented he was with his performances somehow: but
J. J. was coming out very strong, J. J. was going to be a stunner. We
turned with pride and satisfaction to that very number of the Pall Mall
Gazette which the youth had flung at us, and showed him a fine article
by F. Bayham, Esq., in which the picture sent home by J. J. was
enthusiastically lauded by the great critic.

So he was back amongst us, and it seemed but yesterday he had quitted
us. To Londoners everything seems to have happened but yesterday; nobody
has time to miss his neighbour who goes away. People go to the Cape,
or on a campaign, or on a tour round the world, or to India, and return
with a wife and two or three children, and we fancy it was only the
other day they left us, so engaged is every man in his individual
speculations, studies, struggles; so selfish does our life make
us:--selfish but not ill-natured. We are glad to see an old friend,
though we do not weep when he leaves us. We humbly acknowledge, if fate
calls us away likewise, that we are no more missed than any other atom.

After talking for a while, Mr. Clive must needs go into the City,
whither I accompanied him. His interview with Messrs. Jolly and Baines,
at the house in Fog Court, must have been very satisfactory; Clive came
out of the parlour with a radiant countenance. "Do you want any money,
old boy?" says he; "the dear old governor has placed a jolly sum to my
account, and Mr. Baines has told me how delighted Mrs. Baines and the
girls will be to see me at dinner. He says my father has made a lucky
escape out of one house in India, and a famous investment in another.
Nothing could be more civil; how uncommonly kind and friendly everybody
is in London! Ev