'I had come out without a necktie; and there I was, spoutingmy lines to the three Graces, as DECOLLETE as a struttingturkey cock.'
The only other allusion to poetry or literature that nightwas a story I told him of a Mr. Thomas Wrightson, a Yorkshirebanker, and a fanatical Swedenborgian. Tommy Wrightson, whowas one of the most amiable and benevolent of men, transcript of Swedenborg's works.
His writing was a marvel of calligraphic art; he himself, acuriosity. Swedenborg was for him an avatar; but if he haddoubted of Tennyson's ultimate apotheosis, I think he wouldhave elected to seek him in 'the other place.' Anyhow, Mr
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Wrightson avowed to me that he repeated 'Locksley Hall' everymorning of his life before breakfast. This I told Tennyson.
His answer was a grunt; and in a voice from his boots, 'Ugh!
enough to make a dog sick!' I did my utmost to console himwith the assurance that, to the best of my belief, Mr.
Wrightson had once fallen through a skylight.
As illustrating the characters of the admired and hisadmirer, it may be related that the latter, wishing for thepoet's sign-manual, wrote and asked him for it. He addressedTennyson, whom he had never seen, as 'My dear Alfred.' Thereply, which he showed to me, was addressed 'My dear Tom.'
Chapter 36
MY stepfather, Mr. Ellice, having been in two Ministries -Lord Grey's in 1830, and Lord Melbourne's in 1834 - hadnecessarily a large parliamentary acquaintance; and as Icould always dine at his house in Arlington Street when Ipleased, I had constant opportunities of meeting most of theprominent Whig politicians, and many other eminent men of theday. One of the dinner parties remains fresh in my memory -not because of the distinguished men who happened to bethere, but because of the statesman whose name has sincebecome so familiar to the world.
Some important question was before the House in which Mr
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Ellice was interested, and upon which he intended to speak.
This made him late for dinner, but he had sent word that hisson was to take his place, and the guests were not to wait.
When he came Lord John Russell greeted him with -'Well, Ellice, who's up?'
PR
