124 MORE POT-POURRI 



had the best of the wrestle, improved his advantage by 

 taking up handfuls of sand and rubbing it into Augus- 

 tus' eyes while he was lying helpless underneath. A 

 stout stick the French boy had brought with him had 

 fallen in the struggle under Augustus. I, seeing the 

 position, dragged the stick out from under the com- 

 batants, and began belabouring the Frenchman with 

 all my might. This soon converted our defeat into a 

 victory, and the enemy, extricating himself from his 

 antagonist, fled from the field. The lad's father then 

 appeared on the scene and relieved himself by a torrent 

 of abuse. In those days the memories of the old 

 struggles between England and France were still alive 

 among the populace, and we were constantly followed by 

 gamins shouting after us "Goddam Anglish" and other 

 contemptuous expressions. 



' During our residence in Touraine, Augustus and I 

 went with Mr. Nicholl, the tutor, to visit the old castles 

 of the neighbourhood, and I remember going to Loches, 

 Chinon, Chenonceaux, and Chambord, travelling in the 

 little country diligences. 



' In the winter evenings, at the "Capucins," my father 

 used to read Walter Scott's novels to us, and I recall 

 how we looked forward with excitement to the time of 

 resumption of the stories. "Quentin Durward" was 

 especially interesting to us, as the scene of a great part 

 of his adventures was within sight of our own house, 

 Plessis les Tours being just across the river. 



' On the whole, my life at Tours was the part of my 

 youth to which I look back with the greatest pleasure. 

 It has tinged my whole existence with a great love of 

 France, and, until the experience of late years showed 

 me the childish petulance in political affairs of her peo- 

 ple, I had a sincere admiration and affection for them. 



' The time came at last when I had to go to school. 



