tradesman's daughter, who brought him a moderate capital just when
he needed it for an enterprise promising greatly. In a short time he
had established the firm of Egremont & Pollard, with extensive works
in Lambeth. His wife died before him; his son received a liberal
education, and in early manhood found himself, as far as he knew,
without a living relative, but with ample means of independence.
Young Walter Egremont retained an interest in the business, but had
no intention of devoting himself to a commercial life. At the
University he had made alliances with men of standing, in the
academical sense, and likewise with some whose place in the world
relieved them from the necessity of establishing a claim to
intellect. In this way society was opened to him, and his personal
qualities won for him a great measure of regard from those whom he
most desired to please.

Somebody had called him 'the Idealist,' and the name adhered to him.
At two-and-twenty he published a volume of poems, obviously derived
from study of Shelley, but marked with a certain freshness of
impersonal aspiration which was pleasant enough. They had the note
of sincerity rather than the true poetical promise. The book had no
successor. Having found this utterance for his fervour, Egremont
began a series of ramblings over sea, in search, he said, of
himself. The object seemed to evade him; he returned to England from
time to time, always in appearance more restless, but always
overflowing with ideas, for which he had the readiest store of
enthusiastic words. He was able to talk of himself without conveying
the least impression of egotism to those who were in sympathy with
his intellectual point of view; he was accused of conceit only by a
few who were jealous of him or were too conventional to appreciate
his character. With women he was a favourite, and their society was