sition before
giving of my news to anybody. I was just funky and blue about
it at first, but fortunately I was twigged almost immediately,
and, barring my blessed idleness, am getting on splendaciously
just now. Lots of my things have been out. I'm going in for
becoming a swell.

"How strange to think of such a change. I'm leading the
merriest of lives, and only hope it will last. Living with
Henley, No. 85, Newman Street; very jolly and comfortable.
Chumming with all the old Paris fellows again, all of them
going ahead. There's Whistler is already one of the great
celebrities here--Poynter getting on. This is a very jolly
little village, and I wish you were over here. They do make
such a fuss with an agreeable fellow like you or me, for
instance. But I suppose Paris is just as jolly in its way.
My ideas of Paris are all Boheme, quartier latin, &c., et si
c'etait a recommencer, ma foi je crois que je dirais 'zut.'
This is a hurried and absurd letter to write to an old pal
like you, but I hardly ever have time for a line--out late
every night and make use of what little daylight there is in
Newman Street to draw. 'S'il faisait au moins clair de Lune
pendant le jour dans ce sacre pays.' I daresay I shall treat
myself to a trip over to Paris as soon as the weather is
jollier. I intend to go abroad this summer to do some etchings
'qui seront aux pommes.' Is there any chance whatever of your
coming over here before? You mustn't form your opinion of my
performances by what you may happen to see, as half of what I
do is spoiled by bad engraving (that's why I intend to etch),
and what I have done, bar one or two things, are merely little
chic sketches for money. I have many plans; among others I
intend to bring out a series in _Punch_, with which I shall
take peculiar care--something quite original. I think you
would precious soon get more portraits than you could paint
here, but if you are getting on so well in Paris, of course it
would be madness to leave. But I do not like the idea of your
not being one of us--such a band of brothers full of jolly
faults that dovetail beautifully. It was quite a freak of mine
coming over here; I did it against everybody's advice--came
over with a ten-pound note and made the rest. 'Your friend
Bobtail seems to be the only man who had no