re was a wonderful catch of
Mackerel down in the West. I have no doubt that this warm weather and
fine nights has to do with it. I believe that we are in for a spell
of such weather:--but I suppose you have no thought of going Westward
now.

"I have desired that a . . . [word missing] of the Green Paint which
Mr. Silver used should be sent to you. But do not you _wait_ for it,
if you want to be about the Lugger at once. The paint _will keep_ for
another time: and I suppose that the sooner the Lugger is afloat this
hot and dry weather the better.

"Remember me to your Family.

"Yours always,
"E. FG."

Mr. Manby has been already mentioned, and we have previously heard of the
excellence of Mr. Silver's green paint. But this letter must have been
almost the last written by the sleeping partner before the termination of
the partnership; for on April the 12th Mr. W. T. Balls, of Lowestoft,
valued the _Meum and Tuum_, and "Herring and Mackerel Nets, Bowls,
Warpropes, Ballast, and miscellaneous Fishing Stock belonging jointly to
Edward FitzGerald and Joseph Fletcher."

FitzGerald had started Posh, put him on his legs, and, as he believed,
given him a chance to become a successful "owner." But the poet was
weary of the partnership. He had found it impossible to persuade Posh to
keep accounts such as should be kept in every business, and had been
disappointed more than once by the intemperance of the man. But as yet
the kindly, generous-hearted gentleman had no thought of breaking with
his protege altogether, or of depriving him of the use of the _Meum and
Tuum_ or _Henrietta_, both of which had been bought with his,
FitzGerald's, money. But he would no longer be a partner. So Mr. Balls
was called in to value the stock-in-trade, with a view to arranging that
a bill of sale for the half-value to which FitzGerald was entitled should
be given him, and that Posh should thereafter carry on the business of a
herring-boat owner by himself, subject to the charge in favour of his old
"guv'nor."

Despite the various "squalls," there had, as yet, been no serious quarrel
between these two. Indeed, FitzGerald's kind heart never forgot Posh,
and the fascination of the man. But for the future FitzGerald and Posh
were no longer partners. FitzGerald's experience as a "herring merchant"
was at an end.

CHAPTER XIV
POSH'S PORTRAIT

Previously to the termination of the partnership