Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/203

PRECEDING THE INVASION. 173 from conveying to him an unwelcome trutli. chap. Indeed, after the death of the Duke of Welling- L ton, the proudest Englishman, if only he had intellect and a little knowledge of his country's latter history, had generally the grace to under- stand that, unless he too were a soldier who had taken his orders from the lips of Sir Arthur Wellesley, he could hardly be the equal of one whose mere presence was a record of England's great days. Thence it followed that, without pre- tension on the one side or servility on the other, men who were with him had a tendency to become courtiers. It was in vain that, so far as it had to do with their personal contentment, his manner placed men at their ease ; there was some quality in him, or else some outward circumstance — it was partly, perhaps, the historic appeal of his maimed sword-arm — which was always enforcing remembrance, and preventing his fusion with other men. In truth, Lord Eaglan's manner was of such a kind as to be, not simply ornament, but a real engine of power. It swayed events. There was no mere gloss in it. By some gift of imagination he divined the feelings of all sorts and conditions of men ; and whether he talked to a statesman or a schoolboy, his hearer went away captive. I knew a shy, thoughtful, seniutive youth, just gazetted to a regiment of the Guards, who had to render his visit of thanks to the military secretary at the Horse Guards. He went in trepidation ; he came back radiant with joy and wholesome