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the cardinal point of Christianity。 I believe that God reveals
Himself in every individual soul； and my idea of Heaven is the
perpetual ministry of one soul to another。〃 He had lived the life of
heaven upon earth； being in all his work a minister of things
honourable； lovely； consoling； and ennobling to the souls of others；
with a ministry which cannot die。 His body sleeps next to that of
his friend and fellow…poet； Robert Browning； in front of Chaucer's
monument in the Abbey。
CHAPTER XI。LAST CHAPTER。
〃O； that Press will get hold of me now；〃 Tennyson said when he knew
that his last hour was at hand。 He had a horror of personal tattle；
as even his early poems declare …
〃For now the Poet cannot die；
Nor leave his music as of old；
But round him ere he scarce be cold
Begins the scandal and the cry。〃
But no 〃carrion…vulture〃 has waited
〃To tear his heart before the crowd。〃
About Tennyson； doubtless； there is much anecdotage： most of the
anecdotes turn on his shyness； his really exaggerated hatred of
personal notoriety； and the odd and brusque things which he would say
when alarmed by effusive strangers。 It has not seemed worth while to
repeat more than one or two of these legends； nor have I sought
outside the Biography by his son for more than the biographer chose
to tell。 The readers who are least interested in poetry are most
interested in tattle about the poet。 It is the privilege of genius
to retain the freshness and simplicity； with some of the foibles； of
the child。 When Tennyson read his poems aloud he was apt to be moved
by them； and to express frankly his approbation where he thought it
deserved。 Only very rudimentary psychologists recognised conceit in
this freedom； and only the same set of persons mistook shyness for
arrogance。 Effusiveness of praise or curiosity in a stranger is apt
to produce bluntness of reply in a Briton。 〃Don't talk d…d nonsense；
sir；〃 said the Duke of Wellington to the gushing person who piloted
him； in his old age； across Piccadilly。 Of Tennyson Mr Palgrave
says； 〃I have known him silenced； almost frozen； before the eager
unintentional eyes of a girl of fifteen。 And under the stress of
this nervous impulse compelled to contradict his inner self
（especially when under the terror of leonisation 。 。 。 ）； he was
doubtless at times betrayed into an abrupt phrase； a cold
unsympathetic exterior； a moment's 'defect of the rose。'〃 Had he not
been sensitive in all things； he would have been less of a poet。 The
chief criticism directed against his mode of life is that he WAS
sensitive and reserved； but he could and did make himself pleasant in
the society of les pauvres d'esprit。 Curiosity alarmed him； and
drove him into his shell： strangers who met him in that mood carried
away false impressions； which developed into myths。 As the Master of
Balliol has recorded； despite his shyness 〃he was extremely
hospitable； often inviting not only his friends； but the friends of
his friends； and giving them a hearty welcome。 For underneath a
sensitive exterior he was thoroughly genial if he was understood。〃
In these points he was unlike his great contemporary； Browning； for
instance； Tennyson never （I think） was the Master's guest at Balliol；
mingling； like Browning； with the undergraduates； to whom the
Master's hospitality was freely extended。 Yet； where he was
familiar； Tennyson was a gay companion； not shunning jest or even
paradox。 〃As Dr Johnson says； every man may be judged of by his
laughter〃： but no Boswell has chronicled the laughters of Tennyson。
〃He never； or hardly ever； made puns or witticisms〃 （though one pun；
at least； endures in tradition）； 〃but always lived in an attitude of
humour。〃 Mr Jowett writes （and no description of the poet is better
than his） …
If I were to describe his outward appearance； I should say that he
was certainly unlike any one else whom I ever saw。 A glance at some
of Watts' portraits of him will give； better than any description
which can be expressed in words； a conception of his noble mien and
look。 He was a magnificent man； who stood before you in his native
refinement and strength。 The unconventionality of his manners was in
keeping with the originality of his figure。 He would sometimes say
nothing； or a word or two only； to the stranger who approached him；
out of shyness。 He would sometimes come into the drawing…room
reading a book。 At other times； especially to ladies； he was
singularly gracious and benevolent。 He would talk about the
accidents of his own life with an extraordinary freedom； as at the
moment they appeared to present themselves to his mind； the days of
his boyhood that were passed at Somersby； and the old school of
manners which he came across in his own neighbourhood： the days of
the 〃apostles〃 at Cambridge： the years which he spent in London； the
evenings enjoyed at the Cock Tavern； and elsewhere； when he saw
another side of life； not without a kindly and humorous sense of the
ridiculous in his fellow…creatures。 His repertory of stories was
perfectly inexhaustible； they were often about slight matters that
would scarcely bear repetition； but were told with such lifelike
reality； that they convulsed his hearers with laughter。 Like most
story…tellers； he often repeated his favourites； but； like children；
his audience liked hearing them again and again； and he enjoyed
telling them。 It might be said of him that he told more stories than
any one； but was by no means the regular story…teller。 In the
commonest conversation he showed himself a man of genius。
To this description may be added another by Mr F。 T。 Palgrave：…
Every one will have seen men； distinguished in some line of work；
whose conversation （to take the old figure） either 〃smelt too
strongly of the lamp；〃 or lay quite apart from their art or craft。
What； through all these years； struck me about Tennyson； was that
whilst he never deviated into poetical language as such； whether in
rhetoric or highly coloured phrase； yet throughout the substance of
his talk the same mode of thought； the same imaginative grasp of
nature； the same fineness and gentleness in his view of character；
the same forbearance and toleration； the aurea mediocritas despised
by fools and fanatics； which are stamped on his poetry； were
constantly perceptible： whilst in the easy and as it were unsought
choiceness； the conscientious and truth…loving precision of his
words； the same personal identity revealed itself。 What a strange
charm lay here； how deeply illuminating the whole character； as in
prolonged intercourse it gradually revealed itself！ Artist and man；
Tennyson was invariably true to himself； or rather； in Wordsworth's
phrase； he 〃moved altogether〃； his nature and his poetry being
harmonious aspects of the same soul； as botanists tell us that flower
and fruit are but transformations of root and stem and leafage。 We
read how； in mediaeval days； conduits were made to flow with claret。
But this was on great occasions only。 Tennyson's fountain always ran
wine。
Once more： In Mme。 Recamier's salon； I have read； at the time when
conversa