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xlii PHILIP
the career of W. M. T. in the first years of his ruin and absurdly
imprudent marriage, at least the portrait will be faithful."
Early marriages always appealed to my father. In writing to
congratulate Mr. W. F. Synge on his marriage in 1852, he said :
" I married at your age with £400 paid by a newspaper, which
failed six months afterwards, and always love to hear of a young
fellow testing his fortune bravely in that way. And although my
own marriage was a wreck as you know, I would do it once again,
for behold Love is the crown and completion of all earthly good,
The man who is afraid of his fortune never deserved one."
The following passage from one of my father's note-books suggests
a precedent for the sensational scene at the end of the book,
when Philip comes in for the Ringwood inheritance :—
" The Lowther Postchaise.—Sir John Lowther sent for the heirat-law
of certain property, and desired him to join in cutting off the
entail. Mr. Lowther declined, on which Sir John, calling for his
postchaise, drove straightway to London and took his will away
from his lawyers, intending to make a new one and revoke all the
depositions in favour of his heir-at-law. Almost immediately on
reaching Lowther he died. Mr. Lowther came into that part of the
property which was entailed to him, but Lowther Castle and great
estates besides fell to Lord Darlington who lived there. Some
months after an old postchaise was found in an outbuilding, and in
a pocket of it the will bequeathing Lowther to Mr. Lowther. On
the same evening the outbuilding and everything in it was burnt
to the ground ; but the will was found just in time, and Lord D.
vacated the premises and gave place to the legal heir."
The story of the illustrations for "Philip" has been fully
told in the life of Frederick Walker, by his brother-in-law,
Mr. Marks.
" Mr. George Smith happening to meet Mr. Walker at the door
of the office of Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co., inquired who he was, and
was told by the clerk who acted the part of dragon that he was a
young artist of the name of Walker who wished to draw for The
Cornhill Magazine, and who had called before with specimens of
his drawings. ' He is a mere boy,' said the clerk. ' I told him