THE ABSENT MAN. BY JOHN RUSSELL, AUTHOR OF “THE JESUIT IN ENGLAND," &c., &c. LONDON: BLAYNEY AND FRYER, WARWICK SQUARE, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1858. 249. L. 525. ALFRED BARTON, THE ABSENT MAN. CHAPTER I. An old English Gentleman (from the Life)-A Bookworm-Connoisseur-Peculiarities-Principles and Foibles-Hospitality. ALFRED BARTON, the hero of this tale, was the youngest son of a country gentleman,-one of that class, so peculiar to our happy, free, and glorious isle, -pourtrayed in the popular chant, the "Fine Old English Gentleman; one of the olden time." The furniture of his somewhat antiquated mansion had been one of the first objects of his quiet, honourable life. Every article, down to a three-cornered oak carved footstool, had been designed by, and made for him, with the greatest care; and, strange to say, for a gentleman of independent property, with a degree B of slyness, or rather concealment, difficult to be understood by those who were unacquainted with, or could not appreciate his character. He gave most unreservedly for any object he had set his mind upon -but did not care that vulgar, common-place beings should have an opportunity of estimating his views. In all cases in which taste and fancy prevailed, he might be upbraided with extravagance by the sordid and vulgar. He was, as his eldest son (Frederick) said, “deuced lavish of his money; but won't let me have ‘a skrew' more than a 'prentice boy.” It is not all, even amongst men of education and rank, who may be capable of duly appreciating genius, or the attributes of a gentleman. Mr. Barton well He had reprinted a rare, but knew what they were. small volume, on the subject; the cost of printing fifty copies only amounted to more than £400. For, with the true pertinacity of a book-worm, Barton would have it a fac-simile-printed in an antiquated type, purposely cast for the work; and the paper manufactured quite of the precise colour or "tone" as he was fond of saying. The binding also was exactly a copy of the original-vellum embossed (temp. Q. Eliz.) gilt edges. It need scarcely be added, these unique morceaux were for presentation to most of the eminent public men of his day. And it would seem, that one great object of the donor was to obtain autograph letters from the distinguished recipients. In some future century these may be estimated, and produce enormous prices. One was presented to the author of this tale. His hospitality was boundless. Being a confidential friend, I always found, on visiting him, an old bottle of finest A.D. port (as he used to term it) placed at a careful distance from the fire, and a curiously antique-carved three-cornered table set out with rich chased silver bottle-stands, and curiously cut glasses. On the settee, lay always three or four select volumes, which showed signs of having been preserved with religious care. But beware that you touched them! He might-but that was a rare event. I have seen him actually lift up a portion of the leaves of one or two volumes, with "There! hear it crackle. It has scarcely ever been opened." Nearly all were autograph books. I saw the signatures of Cowper, Dr. Johnson, Swift, Pope-and of other illustrious and eminent men. I remember one little square book, Italian poetry. It had been richly bound and gilt; and he persisted in having the damaged parts repaired with bright red morocco patches. The book was a curiosity indeed; fit for the British Museum: Darnley's own vade mecum, as the signature denoted; and but for Mr. Barton's rigid adherence to truth, he might have averred that it was the gift of Queen Mary to the unfortunate owner. There were some evidences to that effect inside the cover. It |