The Life of a Great Sportsman 



grandmother, to have any chance in the matrimonial stakes, as 

 more than one aspirant for her daughter's hand had found out, 

 to his bitter disappointment and chagrin. 



Another point in Mr. Southwell's favour as our prospective 

 stepfather was, that very soon after he came to Limber, the 

 question of a school for my two brothers had to be decided. 

 My school career was already determined, a boarding school in 

 Kensington, kept by four sisters, the Misses Hare, and where 

 my mother had been their first pupil. Curiously enough, as it 

 turned out, when my six happy, healthy years with them ended, 

 I was destined to be their last pupil. 



Thus, at this critical time of Maunsell's life, there is no 

 doubt that Mr. Southwell, who was rapidly becoming very dear 

 and necessary to our mother, had a considerable and most 

 honourable share in persuading her to enter my two brothers 

 at Harrow, which, having been there himself, he could 

 naturally recommend with confidence. He also advised an 

 establishment at Elstree, kept by a Dr. Bernays, as being the 

 best preparatory school for Harrow then existent. 



Up to now we had had our governesses, and the boys a 

 tutor, the Rev. James Pooley, who not only preceded Mr. 

 Southwell as curate at Limber, but had also been an aspirant 

 to our mother's hand. Being, however, unsuccessful in his suit, 

 he married our Aunt Margaret, one of my father's sisters, 

 retiring with her from Limber, and from our ken, thus making 

 room for the conquering Mr. Southwell. 



Owing to our late Queen Victoria, of blessed memory, 

 having married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, the 

 German language was just then the order of the day, and our 

 governesses were, in consequence, selected from that nationality. 

 Two of these poor ladies quickly proved themselves quite 

 incompetent to manage we unruly children, in any shape or 



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