he
became acquainted with Fitzjames I am unable to say; but the
acquaintanceship ripened into one of his closest friendships. They had
certain intellectual sympathies; and it would be hard to say which of
them had the most unequivocal hatred of popery. Here again, however, the
friendship was compatible with, or stimulated by, great contrasts of
temperament. No one could be blind to Froude's great personal charm
whenever he chose to exert it; but many people had the feeling that it
was not easy to be on such terms as to know the real man. There were
certain outworks of reserve and shyness to be surmounted, and they
indicated keen sensibilities which might be unintentionally shocked. But
to such a character there is often a great charm in the plain, downright
ways of a masculine friend, who speaks what he thinks without reserve
and without any covert intention. Froude and Fitzjames, in any case,
became warmly attached; Froude thoroughly appreciated Fitzjames's fine
qualities, and Fitzjames could not but delight in Froude's cordial
sympathy.[88] Fitzjames often stayed with him in later years, both in
Ireland and Devonshire: he took a share in the fishing, shooting, and
yachting in which Froude delighted; and if he could not rival his
friend's skill as a sportsman admired it heartily, delighted in pouring
out his thoughts about all matters, and, as Froude told me, recommended
himself to such companions as gamekeepers and fishermen by his hearty
and unaffected interest in their pursuits.

Along with this friendship I must mention the friendship with Carlyle.
Carlyle had some intercourse with my father in the 'fifties.' My father,
indeed, had thought it proper to explain, in a rather elaborate letter
after an early conversation, that he did not sympathise with one of
Carlyle's diatribes against the Church of England, though he had not
liked to protest at the moment. Carlyle responded very courteously and
asked for further meetings. His view of my father was coloured by some
of his usual severity, but was not intentionally disparaging.

Fitzjames, on his first call, had been received by Mrs. Carlyle, who
ordered him off the premises on suspicion of being an American celebrity
hunter. He submitted so peacefully that she relented; called him back,
and, discovering his name, apologised for her wrath. I cannot fix the
dates, but during these years Fitzjames gradually came to be very
intimate with her husband. Froude and he were