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ot 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 assimilate。 For one thing； his religious views were what are called broad； whereas she belonged to the Society of Plymouth Brethren； whose views are narrow。 She told him that he would go to hell。 He intimated in reply that； if she were not there； that fate would have its consolations。 In short； the rows were awful。 I never knew a more ill…assorted pair。 I think that I stopped with these good people for about a year； imbibing some knowledge of French literature； and incidentally of the tes of the Plymouth Brethren。 Then my father announced that I was to go to Scoones； the great crammer； and there make ready to face the Foreign Office examination。
To this end； when I was just eighteen； I was put in lodgings alone in London； entirely uncontrolled in any way。 The first set of these lodgings was somewhere near Westbourne Grove and kept by a young widow。 As they did not turn out respectable I was moved to others in Davis Street； an excellent situation for a young gentleman about town。 Be it remembered that this happened at a time of life when youths nowadays are either still at school or just gone up to College； where they have the advantage of effective guidance and control for some years。 At this age I was thrown upon the world； as I remember when I was a little lad my elder brothers threw me into the Rhine to teach me to swim。 After nearly drowning I learned to swim； and in a sense the same may be said of my London life。
There is a kind Providence that helps some people through many dangers； although unfortunately it seems to abandon others to their fate。 In my case it helped me through。
Among the risks I ran were those attendant upon spiritualism。 Somehow or other； I have not the faintest recollection how； I became a frequent visitor at the house of old Lady Paulet； No。 20 Hanover Square。 She was a great spiritualist； and I used to attend her seances。 Undoubtedly very strange things happened at these seances which I will not stop to describe。 Among the other habitues of the “circle” was Lady Caithness； who wore a necklace of enormous diamonds。 When the lights were turned down these diamond