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160 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
from fortune ? Dukes and Rothschilds may be envious of such a
man.
Though Ridley has had his trials and troubles, as we shall
presently learn, his art has mastered them all. Black care may
have sat in crupper on that Pegasus, but has never unhorsed the
rider. In certain minds, art is dominant and superior to all beside
—stronger than love, stronger than hate, or care, or penury. As
soon as the fever leaves the hand free, it is seizing and fondling
the pencil. Love may frown and be false, but the other mistress
never will. She is always true : always new : always the friend,
companion, inestimable consoler. So John James Ridley sat at his
easel from breakfast till sundown, and never left his work quite
willingly. I wonder are men of other trades so enamoured of theirs ;
whether lawyers cling to the last to their darling reports ; or writers
prefer their desks and inkstands to society, to friendship, to dear
idleness ? I have seen no men in life loving their profession so much
as painters, except, perhaps, actors, who, when not engaged themselves,
always go to the play.
Before this busy easel Phil would sit for hours, and pour out
endless talk and tobacco-smoke. His presence was a delight to
Ridley's soul; his face a sunshine; his voice a cordial. Weakly
himself, and almost infirm of body, with sensibilities tremulously
keen, the painter most admired amongst men strength, health, good
spirits, good breeding. Of these, in his youth, Philip had a wealth
of endowment ; and I hope these precious gifts of fortune have not
left him in his maturer age. I do not say that with all men Philip
was so popular. There are some who never can pardon good fortune,
and in the company of gentlemen are on the watch for offence ; and,
no doubt, in his course through life, poor downright Phil trampled
upon corns enough of those who met him in his way. " Do you
know why Ridley is so fond of Firmin ?" asked Jarman. " Because
Firmin's father hangs on to the nobility by the pulse, whilst
Ridley, you know, is connected with them through the sideboard."
So Jarman had the double horn for his adversary : he could
despise a man for not being a gentleman, and insult him for being
one. I have met with people in the world with whom the latter
offence is an unpardonable crime—a cause of ceaseless doubt, division,
and suspicion. What more common or natural, Bufo, than to hate
another for being what you are not ? The story is as old as frogs,
bulls, and men.
Then, to be sure, besides your enviers in life, there are your
admirers. Beyond wit, which he understood—beyond genius, which
he had—Ridley admired good looks and manners, and always kept
some simple hero whom he loved secretly to cherish and worship.