Page:Pen And Pencil Sketches - Volume I.djvu/142

Clique, which is here reproduced as a plate. The original bears the date “Torquay Asylum, 1865.” It became mine in this wise. The members of the Clique at one time had sketch- ing meetings at each other’s houses. One even- ing all of us were at Walker’s ; in the course of it he produced the drawing. Loud were we in its praise, and each secretly hoped that he might become its owner. It would have been invidious to have singled out an individual. Walker felt the difficulty, and, after some discussion, it was decided to draw lots for the sketch. This was done straightway ; the fortunate lot fell to my share, and the sketch became mine. I may mention in passing, that this was the only object I ever won in a raffle in my life, and for that reason, if for no other, was not likely to forget the fact. To describe the design — the principal figure is extremely like F.W. in face and build. Prominent in the ghostly group are Calderon and myself, arm in arm. We were accustomed to give Calderon the nickname of “the fiend,” a circumstance hinted at by the budding horns on the forehead. I, “the all-licensed jester,” carry a fool’s bauble in one hand, the single eyeglass which I wore for many years in the other. Behind these is a very elongated and attenuated George Leslie, bearing a diminutive George Storey, who