They knew him well in the _Punch_ office, and no doubt the amount and regularity of the cheques from Messrs.

Bradbury and Evans, the then and still owners of that happy periodical, made him aware that he had found for himself a satisfactory career.

In "a good day for himself, the journal, and the world, Thackeray found _Punch_." This was said by his old friend Shirley Brooks, who himself lived to be editor of the paper and died in harness, and was said most truly.
_Punch_ was more congenial to him, and no doubt more generous, than _Fraser_.

There was still something of the literary Bohemian about him, but not as it had been before.

He was still unfixed, looking out for some higher career, not altogether satisfied to be no more than one of an anonymous band of brothers, even though the brothers were the brothers of _Punch_.