to him already won, he allowed himself no
momentary interval of relaxation; his food was eaten by starts, and
without stirring from his easel; his sleep was brief and broken by
feverish dreams; he no longer roved with Clarence, when the evening
threw her shade over his labours; all air and exercise he utterly
relinquished; shut up in his narrow chamber, he passed the hours in a
fervid and passionate self-commune, which, even in suspense from his
work, riveted his thoughts the closer to its object. All companionship,
all intrusion, he bore with irritability and impatience. Even Clarence
found himself excluded from the presence of his friend; even his nearest
relation, who doted on the very ground which he hallowed with his
footstep, was banished from the haunted sanctuary of the painter; from
the most placid of human beings, Warner seemed to have grown the most
morose.

Want of rest, abstinence from food, the impatience of the strained
spirit and jaded nerves, all contributed to waste the health while they
excited the genius of the artist. A crimson spot, never before seen
there, burned in the centre of his pale cheek; his eye glowed with a
brilliant but unnatural fire; his features grew sharp and attenuated;
his bones worked from his whitening and transparent skin; and the soul
and frame, turned from their proper and kindly union, seemed contesting,
with fierce struggles, which should obtain the mastery and the triumph.

But neither his new prospects nor the coldness of his friend diverted
the warm heart of Clarence from meditating how he could most effectually
serve the artist before he departed from the country, It was a peculiar
object of desire to Warner that the most celebrated painter of the day,
who was on terms of intimacy with Talbot, and who with the benevolence
of real superiority was known to take a keen interest in the success
of more youthful and inexperienced genius,--it was a peculiar object of
desire to Warner, that Sir Joshua Reynolds should see his picture before
it was completed; and Clarence, aware of this wish, easily obtained from
Talbot a promise that it should be effected. That was the least service
of his zeal touched by the earnestness of Linden's friendship, anxious
to oblige in any way his preserver, and well pleased himself to be the
patron of merit, Talbot readily engaged to obtain for Warner whatever
the attention and favour of high rank or literary distinction could
bestow. "As for his