the days of my life-第6章

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I　think　it　is　fortunate　for　me　that　I　have　never　been　called　upon　to　face　the　petitive　examinations　which　are　now　so　fashionable；　and；　I　will　add；　in　my　opinion　in　many　ways　so　mischievous；　for　I　greatly　doubt　whether　I　should　have　succeeded　in　them。　The　only　one　for　which　I　ever　entered　was　that　for　the　Army；　which　about　1872　was　more　severe　than　is　now　the　case。　Then　I　went　up　almost　without　preparation；　not　because　I　wished　to　bee　a　soldier　but　in　order　to　keep　a　friend　pany；　and　was　duly　floored　by　my　old　enemy；　Euclid；　for　which　I　am　very　thankful。　Had　I　passed　I　might　have　gone　on　with　the　thing　and　by　now　been　a　retired　colonel　with　nothing　to　do；　like　so　many　whom　I　know。
Of　those　early　years　at　Bradenham　few　events　stand　out　clearly　in　my　mind。　One　terrific　night；　however；　when　I　was　about　nine　years　old；　I　have　never　forgotten。　I　lay　abed　in　the　room　called　the　Sandwich；　and　for　some　reason　or　other　could　not　sleep。　Then　it　was　that　suddenly　my　young　intelligence　for　the　first　time　grasped　the　meaning　of　death。　It　came　home　to　me　that　I　too　must　die；　that　my　body　must　be　buried　in　the　ground　and　my　spirit　be　hurried　off　to　a　terrible；　unfamiliar　land　which　to　most　people　was　known　as　Hell。　In　those　days　it　was　mon　for　clergymen　to　talk　a　great　deal　about　Hell；　especially　to　the　young。　It　was　an　awful　hour。　I　shivered；　I　prayed；　I　wept。　I　thought　I　saw　Death　waiting　for　me　by　the　library　door。　At　last　I　went　to　sleep　to　dream　that　I　was　already　in　this　hell　and　that　the　peculiar　form　of　punishment　allotted　to　me　was　to　be　continually　eaten　alive　by　rats！
Thus　it　was　that　I　awoke　out　of　childhood　and　came　face　to　face　with　the　facts　of　destiny。
My　other　recollections　are　mostly　of　a　sporting　character。　Like　the　majority　of　country…bred　boys　I　adored　a　gun。　That　given　to　me　was　a　single…barrelled　muzzle…loader。　With　this　weapon　I　went　within　an　ace　of　putting　an　end　to　my　mortal　career；　contriving　in　some　mysterious　way　to　let　it　off　so　that　the　charge　just　grazed　my　face。　Also　I　almost　shot　my　brother　Andrew　through　a　fence　which　it　was　our　habit　to　hunt　for　rabbits；　one　of　us　on　either　side；　with　Jack；　a　dear　terrier　dog；　working　the　ditch　in　the　middle。
I　did　terrible　deeds　with　that　gun。　Once　even；　unable　to　find　any　other　game；　I　shot　a　missel…thrush　on　its　nest；　a　crime　that　has　haunted　me　ever　since。　Also　I　poached　a　cock…pheasant；　shooting　it　on　the　wing　through　a　thick　oak　tree　so　that　it　fell　into　a　pool；　whence　it　was　retrieved　with　difficulty。　Also　I　killed　a　farmer’s　best…laying　duck。　It　was　in　the　moat　of　the　Castle　Plantation；　where　I　concluded　no　respectable　tame　duck　would　be；　and　there　it　died；　with　results　almost　as　painful　to　me　as　to　the　duck；　which　was　demonstrated　to　have　about　a　dozen　eggs　inside　it。
Generally　there　was　a　horse　or　two　at　Bradenham　on　which　we　boys　could　hunt。　One　was　a　mare　called　Rebecca；　a　very　smart　animal　that　belonged　more　or　less　to　my　brother　Bazett；　which　I　overrode　or　lamed　following　the　hounds；　a　crime　whereof　I　heard　plenty　afterwards。　The　mount　that　most　often　fell　to　my　lot；　however；　was　a　flea…bitten　old　grey　called　Body…Snatcher；　because　of　a　string…halt　so　pronounced　that；　when　he　came　out　of　the　stable　he　almost　hit　his　hoof　against　his　stomach。　As　a　matter　of　fact　I　discovered　afterwards　from　some　dealer　that　Body…Snatcher　had　in　his　youth　been　a　two…hundred…guinea　horse。　Meeting　with　some　accident；　he　was　sold　and　put　into　a　trap；　which　he　upset；　killing　one　of　the　occupants；　and　finally　was　purchased　by　my　father　for　15　pounds。　But　when　he　warmed　to　his　work　and　the　hounds　were　in　full　cry；　with　a　light　weight　like　myself　upon　his　back；　there　was　scarcely　a　horse　in　the　county　that　could　touch　him　over　a　stiff　fence。　What　his　end　was　I　cannot　remember。　Sometimes　also　my　father　rode；　though　not　in　later　years。　I　recall　riding　with　him　down　some　lane　out　Swaffham　way。　Suddenly　he　turned　to　me　and　said；　“When　I　am　dead；　boy；　you　will　remember　these　rides　with　me。”　And　so　I　have。
After　my　time　at　Mr。　Graham’s；　of　whom　I　have　spoken；　came　to　an　end；　how　or　when　I　do　not　know；　the　question　arose　as　to　where　I　should　be　sent　to　school。　All　my　five　elder　brothers；　except　Jack　the　sailor；　had　the　advantage　of　a　public　school　education。　William　and　Bazett　went　to　Winchester；　and　afterwards　to　Oxford　and　Cambridge　respectively；　Alfred　to　Haileybury；　Andrew　to　Westminster；　and　subsequently　my　younger　brother　Arthur　to　Shrewsbury　and　Cambridge。　When　it　came　to　my　turn；　however；　funds　were　running　short；　which　is　scarcely　to　be　wondered　at；　as　my　father　has　told　me　that　about　this　time　the　family　bills　for　education　came　to　1200　pounds　a　year。　Also；　as　I　was　supposed　to　be　not　very　bright；　I　dare　say　it　was　thought　that　to　send　me　to　a　public　school　would　be　to　waste　money。　So　it　was　decreed　that　I　should　go　to　the　Grammar　School　at　Ipswich；　which　had　the　advantages　of　being　cheap　and　near　at　hand。
Never　shall　I　forget　my　arrival　at　that　educational　establishment；　to　which　my　father　conducted　me。　We　travelled　via　Norwich；　where　he　bought　me　a　hat。　For　some　reason　best　known　to　himself；　the　head…gear　which　he　selected　was　such　as　is　generally　worn　by　a　curate；　being　of　the　ordinary　clerical　black　felt　and　shape。　In　this　weird　head…dress　I　was　duly　delivered　at　Ipswich　Grammar　School。　As　soon　as　my　father　had　tumultuously　departed　to　catch　his　train；　I　was　sent　into　the　playground；　where　I　stood　a　forlorn　and　lanky　figure。　Presently　a　boy　came　up　and　hit　me　in　the　face；　saying：
“Phillips”　（I　think　that　was　his　name）　“sends　this　to　the　new　fellow　in　a　parson’s　hat。”
This　was　too　much　for　me；　for　underneath　my　placid　exterior　I　had　a　certain　amount　of　spirit。
“Show　me　Phillips；”　I　said；　and　a　very　big　boy　was　pointed　out　to　me。
I　went　up　to　him；　made　some　appropriate　repartee　to　his　sarcasm　about　my　hat；　and　hit　him　in　the　face。　Then　followed　a　fight；　of　which；　as　he　was　so　much　larger　and　stronger；　of　course　I　got　the　worst。　However；　I　gained　the　respect　of　my　schoolfellows；　and　thenceforth　my　clergyman’s　hat　was　tolerated　until　I　managed　to　procure　another。
I　spent　two　or　three　years　at　Ipswich。　At　that　time　it　was　a　rough　place；　and　there　was　much　bullying　of　which　the　masters　were　not　aware。　The　best　thing　about　the　school　was　its　head　master；　Dr。　Holden；　with　whom　I　became　very　friendly　in　after　life　when；　as　it　chanced；　we　lived　almost　next　door　to　each　other　in　Redcliffe　Square。
He　was　a　charming　and　a　kindly　gentleman；　also　one　of　the　best　scholars　of　his　age。　But　I　do　not　think　that　the　management　of　a　school　like　Ipswich　was　quite　the　task　to　which　he　was　suited；　and　I　am　sure　that　much　went　on　there　whereof　he　knew　nothing。
The　second　master　was　a　certain　Dr。　or　Mr。　Saunderson；　an　enormous　man　physically；　who　was　also　a　most　excellent　scholar。　He　was　a　gentleman　too；　as　the　following　story　shows。
Once　by　some　accident　I　wrote　a　really　fine　set　of　Latin　verses。　He　had　me　up　and　asked　me　where　I　had　cribbed　them。　I　told　him　that　I　had　not　cribbed　them　at　all。　He　answered　that　I　was　a　liar；　for　he　was　sure　that　there　was　no　one　in　the　school　who　could　write　such　verses。　My　recollection　was　that　I　proved　to　him　that　this　was　not　the　case　and　that　there　the　matter　ended。　It　appears；　however；　as　I　learned　a　few　years　ago　on　the　occasion　of　my　returning　to　Ipswich　School　to　take　a　leading　part　in　the　Speech…day　functions；　that　the　real　finale　was　more　dramatic。　A　gentleman　who　had　been　my　classmate　in　those　far…off　days　informed　me　that　when　Mr。　Saunderson　discovered　that　he　had　accused　me　falsely；　he　summoned　the　whole　school　and　offered　me　a　public　apology。　From　inquiries　that　I　made　there　seems　to　be　no　doubt　that　this　really　happened。
I　did　not　distinguish　myself　in　any　way　at　Ipswich　—　I　imagine　for　the　old　reason　that　I　was　generally　engaged　in　thinking　of　other　things　than　the　lesson　in　hand。　Moreover　in　those　times　boys　did　not　receive　the　individual　attention　that　is　given　to　them　now；　even　in　the　Board　schools。　The　result　was　that　the　bent　of　such　abilities　as　I　may　possess　was　never　discovered。　On　one　occasion；　however；　I　did　triumph。
Mr。　Saunderson　offered　a　special　prize　to　the　boy　who　could　write　the　best　descriptive　essay　on　any　subject　that　he　might　select。　I　chose　that　of　an　operation　in　a　hospital。　I　had　never　been　in　a　hospital　or　seen　an　operation；　so　any　information　I　had　upon　the　matter　must　have　e　from　reading。　Still　I　beat　all　the　other　essayists　hollow　and　won　the　prize。　This；　as　it　chanced；　I　never　received；　for　when　I　returned　to　school　after　the　holidays；　Mr。　Saunderson　had　forgotten　all　about　the　matter；　and　I　did　not　like　to　remind　him　of　it。
I　took　my　part　in　the　school　games　and　was　elected　captain　of　the　second　football　team；　but　did　not　stay　long　enough　at　Ipswich　to　get　into　the　first。　Not　much　more　returns　to　me　about　this　period　of　my　life　that　is　worthy　of　record。　Although　I　believe　that　I　was　popular　among　my　schoolmates；　who　showed　their　affection　by　naming　me　“Nosey”　in　allusion　to　the　prominence　of　that　organ　on　my　undeveloped　face；　I　did　not　care　for　school；　and　found　it　monotonous；　with　the　result　that　my　memories　concerning　it　are　somewhat　of　a　blur。
I　know　of　no　more　melancholy　experience　than　to　return　to　such　a　place　after　the　lapse　of　forty　years　or　more；　and　look　on　the　old　familiar　things　and　find　moving　among　them　scarcely　a　living　creature　whom　we　knew。　I　remember　telling　my　audience　on　the　occasion　to　which　I　have　alluded　above；　that　to　me　the　room　seemed　to　be　full　of　ghosts。　Some　of　the　boys　laughed；　for　they　thought　that　I　was　joking；　but　a　day　may　e；　say　towards　the　year　1950；　when　they　too　will　return　and　stand　as　I　did　surveying　an　utterly　alien　crowd；　and　then；　perhaps；　they　will　remember　my　words　and　understand　their　meaning。　Some　tradition　of　me　remained　in　the　place；　for　one　of　the　elder　boys　took　me　to　the　room　that　was　my　study　and　showed　me　the　first　two　initials　of　my　name；　“H。　R。；”　cut　upon　the　mantelpiece。　Although　I　was　in　a　great　hurry　to　catch　the　train；　I　made　shift　to　add　the　remaining　“H。”
There　was　a　good　deal　of　fighting　at　Ipswich；　in　which　I　took　my　share。　I　remember　being　well　licked　by　a　boy　who　was　aggrieved　because　I　had　ducked　him　while　we　were　swimming　together　in　the　river。　When　his　challenge　to　battle　was　accepted；　and　we　came　to　fight　it　out；　I　discovered　that　he　was　left…handed；　which　puzzled　me　altogether。　However；　I　fought　on　till　my　eyes　were　bunged　up　and　we　were　separated。　One　of　the　biggest　boys　of　the　school；　a　fine　young　man；　was　a　great　bully　and；　unknown　to　the　masters；　used　to　cruelly　maltreat　those　who　were　smaller　and　weaker　than　himself。　This　lad　became　a　clergyman；　and；　as　it　happened；　in　after　years　I　struck　his　spoor　in　a　very　remote　part　of　the　world。　He　had　been　chaplain　there；　and　left　no　good　name　behind　him。　More　years　went　by　and　I　received　a　letter　from　him；　the　gist　of　which　was　to　ask　me　what　land　and　climate　I　could　remend　to　him　to　ensure　a　quick　road　to　the　devil。　I　think　I　replied　that　West　Africa　seemed　to　fulfil　all　requirements；　but　whether　he　ever　reached　either　the　first　or　the　second　destination　I　do　not　know。　Poor　fellow！　I　am　sorry　for　him。　He　was　clever　and　handsome；　and　might　have　found　a　better　fate。　I　have　heard；　however；　that　he　made　a　disastrous　marriage；　which　often　takes　men　more　quickly　to　a　bad　end　than　does　or　did　even　the　hinterland　of　West　Africa。
While　I　was　still　at　Ipswich　I　spent　a　summer　holiday　in　Switzerland　when　I　was　about　sixteen；　lodging　with　a　foreign　family　in　order　to　improve　my　French。　With　the　able　assistance　of　the　young　ladies　of　the　house　I　acquired　a　good　colloquial　knowledge　of　that　language　in　quite　a　short　time。　I　never　saw　any　of　them　again。　When　my　visit　was　over　I　joined　the　rest　of　my　family　at　Fluellen　on　the　Lake　of　Lucerne。　Thence　my　brother　Andrew　and　I　walked　to　the　top　of　the　St。　Gothard　Pass；　there　to　bid　farewell　to　our　brother　Alfred；　who　was　crossing　the　Alps　in　a　diligence　on　his　way　to　India　at　the　mencement　of　his　career。　We　slept　the　night　at　some　wayside　inn。　On　the　following　morning　the　pretty　Swiss　chambermaid；　with　whom　we　had　made　friends；　took　us　to　a　mortuary　near　by　and；　among　a　number　of　other　such　gruesome　relics；　showed　us　the　skull　of　her　own　father；　which　she　polished　up　affectionately　with　her　apron。
At　the　top　of　the　pass　we　met　my　brother　and　my　father；　who　had　acpanied　him　so　far。　The　diligence　drove　off；　we　shouting　our　farewells；　my　father　waving　a　tall　white　hat　out　of　which；　to　the　amazement　of　the　travellers；　fell　two　towels　and　an　assortment　of　cabbage　leaves　and　other　greenery。　It　was　like　a　conjuring　trick。　I　should　explain　that　the　day　was　hot；　and　my　parent　feared　sunstroke。
I　think　that　I　remained　at　Ipswich　for　only　one　term　after　this　trip　abroad。　Then；　in　the　following　holidays；　with　characteristic　suddenness　my　father　made　up　his　mind　that　I　was　to　leave；　so　Ipswich　knew　me　no　more。　It　was　at　this　period　that　my　father　determined　that　I　should　go　up　for　the　Foreign　Office；　and；　with　a　view　to　preparing　for　the　examination；　I　was　sent　to　a　private　tutor　in　London；　a　French　professor　who　had　married　one　of　my　sister’s　school…mistresses。　He　was　a　charming　man；　and　she　was　a　charming　woman；　but；　having　married　late　in　life；　they　did　not　in　the　least　ass