To one who had heard much of the liveliness of his conversation and presence a first impression was likely to be disappointing.

His figure at this time was tall, gaunt, and lean--and he steadily lost weight during his service in England; his head was finely shaped--it was large, with a high forehead, his thin gray hair rather increasing its intellectual aspect; and his big frank brown eyes reflected that keen zest for life, that unsleeping interest in everything about him, that ever-working intelligence and sympathy which were the man's predominant traits.

But a very large nose at first rather lessened the pleasing effects of his other features, and a rather weather-beaten, corrugated face gave a preliminary suggestion of roughness.

Yet Page had only to begin talking and the impression immediately changed.

"He puts his mind to yours," Dr.Johnson said, describing the sympathetic qualities of a friend, and the same was true of Page.