that the more real the man the more genuine the actor?"

After a few more days I heard of progress with his writing in spite of
all festivities. "I have made it a rule that the inimitable is
invisible, until two every day. I shall have half the number done,
please God, to-morrow. I have not worked quickly here yet, but I don't
know what I _may_ do. Divers cogitations have occupied my mind at
intervals, respecting the dim design." The design was the weekly
periodical so often in his thoughts, of which more will appear in my
next chapter. His letter closed with intimations of discomfort in his
health; of an obstinate cough; and of a determination he had formed to
mount daily to the top of the downs. "It makes a great difference in
the climate to get a blow there and come down again." Then I heard of
the doctor "stethoscoping" him, of his hope that all was right in that
quarter, and of rubbings "a la St. John Long" being ordered for his
chest. But the mirth still went on. "There has been a Doctor Lankester
at Sandown, a very good merry fellow, who has made one at the picnics,
and whom I went over and dined with, along with Danby (I remember your
liking for Danby, and don't wonder at it), Leech, and White." A letter
towards the close of August resumed yet more of his ordinary tone. "We
had games and forfeits last night at White's. Davy Roberts's pretty
little daughter is there for a week, with her husband, Bicknell's son.
There was a dinner first to say good-bye to Danby, who goes to other
clergyman's-duty, and we were very merry. Mrs. White unchanging; White
comically various in his moods. Talfourd comes down next Tuesday, and we
think of going over to Ryde on Monday, visiting the play, sleeping there
(I don't mean at the play), and bringing the Judge back. Browne is
coming down when he has done his month's work. Should you like to go to
Alum Bay while you are here? It would involve a night out, but I think
would be very pleasant; and if you think so too, I will arrange it sub
rosa, so that we may not be, like Bobadil, 'oppressed by numbers.' I
mean to take a fly over from Shanklin to meet you at Ryde; so that we
can walk back from Shanklin over the landslip, where the scenery is
wonderfully beautiful. Stone and Egg are coming next month, and we hope
to see Jerrold before we go." Such notices from his letters may be
thought hardly worth preserving; but a wonderful vitality in every
circumstance, as long as life under any c