s in the elopement scene. _He_ was never there! In the first
hot sweat of this surprise and novelty, I was going to implore the
printing of that sheet to be stopped, and the figure taken out of the
block. But when I thought of the pain this might give to our
kind-hearted Leech; and that what is such a monstrous enormity to me, as
never having entered my brain, may not so present itself to others, I
became more composed: though the fact is wonderful to me. No doubt a
great number of copies will be printed by the time this reaches you, and
therefore I shall take it for granted that it stands as it is. Leech
otherwise is very good, and the illustrations altogether are by far the
best that have been done for any of the Christmas books. You know how I
build up temples in my mind that are not made with hands (or expressed
with pen and ink, I am afraid), and how liable I am to be disappointed
in these things. But I really am _not_ disappointed in this case.
Quietness and beauty are preserved throughout. Say everything to Mac and
Stanny, more than everything! It is a delight to look at these little
landscapes of the dear old boy. How gentle and elegant, and yet how
manly and vigorous, they are! I have a perfect joy in them."

Of the few days that remained of his Lausanne life, before he journeyed
to Paris, there is not much requiring to be said. His work had continued
during the whole of the month before departure to occupy him so entirely
as to leave room for little else, and even occasional letters to very
dear friends at home were intermitted. Here is one example of many. "I
will write to Landor as soon as I can possibly make time, but I really
am so much at my desk perforce, and so full of work, whether I am there
or elsewhere, between the Christmas book and _Dombey_, that it is the
most difficult thing in the world for me to make up my mind to write a
letter to any one but you. I ought to have written to Macready. I wish
you would tell him, with my love, how I am situated in respect of pen,
ink, and paper. One of the Lausanne papers, treating of free trade, has
been very copious lately in its mention of LORD GOBDEN. Fact; and I
think it a good name." Then, as the inevitable time approached, he cast
about him for such comfort as the coming change might bring, to set
against the sorrow of it; and began to think of Paris, "'in a less
romantic and more homely contemplation of the picture,' as not wholly
undesirable. I have no d