to
his own in later life--was the son of a solicitor of St. Ives in
Huntingdonshire. In early life he was himself a solicitor, which
profession he happily abandoned for literature. His friendship with
Algernon Charles Swinburne is one of the romances of the Victorian era.
His affectionate solicitude doubtless kept that great poet alive for
many a year beyond what would otherwise have been his lot. Watts-Dunton
was, as we have seen, introduced to Borrow by Hake. He has written a
romance which, if he could be persuaded to publish it, would doubtless
command the same attention as _Aylwin_, in which Borrow is introduced as
'Dereham' and Hake as 'Gordon,' and here he tells the story of that
introduction:

One day when I was sitting with him in his delightful home,
near Roehampton, whose windows at the back looked over Richmond
Park, and in front over the wildest part of Wimbledon Common,
one of his sons came in and said that he had seen Dereham
striding across the common, evidently bound for the house.

'Dereham,' I said, 'is there a man in the world I should so
like to see as Dereham?'

And then I told Gordon how I had seen him years before swimming
in the sea off Yarmouth, but had never spoken to him.

'Why do you want so much to see him?' asked Gordon.

'Well, among other things, I want to see if he is a true Child
of the Open Air.'[239]

I find no letter from Hake to Borrow among my papers, but three to his
wife:

BURY ST. EDMUNDS, _Jan. 27, '48. Evening._

MY DEAR MRS. BORROW,--It gave me great pleasure, as it always
does, to see your handwriting; and as respects the subject of
your note you may make yourself quite easy, for I believe the
idea has crossed no other mind than your own. How sorry I am to
learn that you have been so unwell since your visit to us. I
hope that by care you will get strong during this bracing
weather. I wish that you were already nearer to us, and cannot
resign the hope that we shall yet enjoy the happiness of having
you as our neighbours. I have felt a strong friendship for Mr.
Borrow's mind for many years, and have ardently wished from
time to time to know him, and to have realised my desire I
consider one of the most happy events of my life. Until lately,
dear Mrs. Borrow, I have had no opportunity of knowing you and
your sweet simple-he