Mark Lemon had stronger likes than dislikes. This moral balance was of immense benefit to Punch in the early days, when it was building up its reputation. Against anything like humbug he was a stout and persistent opponent. Spiritualism, for example, was a form of humbug which he detested. Just at the time when Punch was particularly fierce in its denunciations of spiritualism I had chambers in Bedford Street, on the same floor as Mark Lemon's rooms. One morning, before breakfast, Mr. Home, the apostle of spiritualism (and a very agreeable and pleasant gentleman, apart from his peculiar power, of which I know nothing), called upon me. He was in my room when Mark Lemon entered in his dressing-gown, anxious to give me some news which he had received that morning by letter. I felt myself in an "awkward fix." I did not introduce the gentlemen. They bowed to each other, Mark Lemon in his courtly

genial fashion. After an awkward pause,

Mark Lemon retired.

"Who was that polite and kind-looking old gentleman?" Home asked.

"Mark Lemon, the editor of Punch," I said. "Good heavens!" exclaimed Home.

could not have believed it."

"I

Presently I breakfasted with Mark Lemon. "Who is your friend?" he asked casually. "What do you think of his appearance?" I asked.

"O, a decent fellow enough; why did you not introduce him?"

"It was Home, the Spiritualist,” I said.

Humph, can't compliment you on the society you keep. Lee takes an interest in spiritualism, he would like to know Home, I dare say. One of our fellows can do all those tricks of the table and the guitar business."

"Punch has been very hard upon Home," I

said.

"If he likes to name a day and come to Bouverie Street, I will undertake to find him a fair and liberal committee; and, if we fail to see through his tricks, Punch shall recant. There!"

Death enhances in interest the sayings and doings of one who filled so important a place in the society of letters as Mark Lemon. It is often the more minute incidents in a man's life that are most indicative of character. The world is naturally and laudably curious to learn how its leading men carry themselves in daily life, and what they say and think behind the scenes of their public position. Terence advises the student to consult the lives of other men as he would a looking-glass, and from thence to fetch examples for his own imitation. In holding up the biographical mirror, it is a delicate and difficult duty to weigh what may be fairly considered private conversations and opinions. I have to thank my friends in the

press for accepting these papers as discreet and entertaining so far. It is often the case that close and intimate acquaintance does not increase your esteem for a public man. His character is improved when you are left to fill up the portrait from imagination and by the help of his works. This was not so with Mark Lemon. To know him intimately was to esteem him the more; and it is in this nobility of character that lies the peculiar delicacy of telling his story. When it comes to be done from the beginning, his biographer will do well to make it a perfect history. "A life that is worth writing at all is worth writing minutely."

CHAPTER IV.

"HOMEWARD BOUND."

AFTER Greenock, a Saturday morning

performance in Edinburgh was to close our visit to Scotland. If shaping our course homeward had not conjured up pleasant glimpses of our respective counties, Sussex and Worcestershire, I suspect we should both have regretted leaving the land o' cakes. As for the boys Bardolph and Shallow, the Prince and Poins, they thought about the parting with real sorrow. Let me except Poins. He had a wife. How soon Bardolph and Shallow might have followed suit in this respect, is a matter of speculation. Bardolph