A Memorable Lesson 



yelling like a madman. With the help of a 

 friend who has come off better than the others, 

 I drag him outside by main force, take him 

 to the sink, which fortunately is close at hand, 

 and hold his face under the tap. This swift 

 ablution serves its purpose. The horrible pain 

 begins to be allayed, so much so that the suf- 

 ferer recovers his senses and is able to continue 

 the washing-process for himself. 



My prompt aid certainly saved his sight. 

 A week later, with the help of the doctor's 

 lotions, all danger was over. How lucky it 

 was that I took it into my head to keep some 

 way off ! My isolation, as I stood looking 

 into the glass case of chemicals, left me all 

 my presence of mind, all my readiness of re- 

 source. What are the others doing, those 

 who got splashed through standing too near 

 the chemical bomb ? I return to the lecture- 

 hall. It is not a cheerful spectacle. The mas- 

 ter has come off badly: his shirt-front, waist- 

 coat and trousers are covered with smears, 

 which are all smouldering and burning into 

 holes. He hurriedly divests himself of a por- 

 tion of his dangerous raiment. Those of us 

 who possess the smartest clothes lend him 

 something to put on so that he can go home 

 decently. 



437 



