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When the time came there was no question of dullness: he proved an eager and earnest student. One day an intimate friend of Mrs Borrow's, who was also godmother to John, brought with her a present of a book for each of the two boys, a history of England for the elder and for the younger Robinson Crusoe. Instantly George became absorbed.

In all probability they recognised a fellow-vagabond, who was at much at issue with the social conventions of communities as they were with the laws of property. On this occasion the period of Borrow's imprisonment was brief.

This, in connection with her employment, reminded Miss Greeby whose reading was wide of a similar scene in Borrow's "Lavengro," when Mrs. Pentulengro's mother shifted herself. And for the moment Mother Cockleshell had just the hairy looks of Mrs. Hern, and also at the moment, probably had the same amiable feelings.

It was Borrow's intention on his return to England to endeavour to obtain an interview with some members of the House of Lords, in order to acquaint them with the manner in which Protestants were persecuted in Spain. They were debarred from the exercise of their religion from being married by Protestant rites, and the common privileges of burial were denied them.

Then there was the accident and the consequent lying-up at the house of the man who knew Chinese, but could not tell what o'clock it was. To confirm Borrow's itinerary all this must have been crowded into less than three weeks, fully a third of which Borrow spent in recovering from his fall.

Whatever his mother may have seen, there appears to have been no thought of marriage in Borrow's mind when, on 29th September 1839, he wrote to Mr Brandram telling him of his wish to visit "China or particular parts of Africa." Borrow paid many tributes to his wife, not only in his letters, but in print, every one of which she seems thoroughly to have merited.

With these assistants Borrow set to work to throw the light of the Gospel into the dark corners of the city. Soon after arriving at Seville, he decided to adopt a new plan of living. It was a two-storied building and much too large for Borrow's requirements. Having bought the necessary articles of furniture, he retired behind the shutters of his Andalusian mansion with Antonio and the two horses.

C. G. Leland tells a story told to him by one who might have been the original of Ardry. The story is the only independent evidence of Borrow's London life. This "old gentleman" had been in youth for a long time the most intimate friend of George Borrow, who was, he said, a very wild and eccentric youth.

Borrow's state of mind may well be imagined, and if by his impulsive letters he unwittingly harmed his own cause at Earl Street, he did so as a man whose liberty, perhaps his life even, was being jeopardised, although not deliberately, by another whom the reforming spirit seemed likely to carry to any excess.

There were now critics capable of discovering other shortcomings. Borrow's book was reviewed along with Leland's "English Gypsies" and Dr.