SCHOOL-LIFE. 9 



all offences, great and small, being impartially visited 

 with the rod, while the daily routine would now be 

 considered as stern and rigorous to a degree. And 

 the head-master, dreading to be accused of favouring 

 his own nephew, was far more strict, and even merci- 

 less with him than with any of his fellow- pupils. Yet 

 the six years which were spent there appear to have 

 been by no means unhappy on the whole. There was 

 plenty of time for outdoor exercise ; the neighbouring 

 country afforded every opportunity for the manifold 

 forms of recreation in which the souls of boys delight ; 

 and, pleasantest of all, the natural history studies 

 could be carried on almost as freely as at Oxford. Soon 

 the boy collected about himself a band of kindred 

 spirits, who used to scour the neighbourhood in search 

 of specimens and trophies, and come home laden with 

 spoil, both living and dead. Grass snakes more especi- 

 ally were in great request by way of pets. Almost 

 every boy had quite a number of them, and would carry 

 them about in his pockets, tie them round his wrists 

 and neck, or cause them to run, or rather glide, races 

 with those of his companions. A very favourite amuse- 

 ment, too, was to visit certain deserted stone quarries in 

 the neighbourhood where standing water was always to 

 be found, and there to make the snakes swim by the 

 simple expedient of throwing them into the middle 

 of a pool, and leaving them to find their way to land. 

 Sometimes a snake would become obstinate, and lie 

 sullenly at the bottom without attempting to swim ; 

 and then stones had to be thrown in such a manner as 



