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ally 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