LETTER FROM GODFREY WEBB 51 



own importance, and a corresponding contempt 

 for the less fortunate men who were members 

 of the other colleges ; these were spoken of as 

 " Squills," and if a Christ Church man associated 

 much with them it was not altogether approved 

 of by these exclusive undergraduates. Tom 

 Powys's common sense at once revolted against 

 this idea of exclusiveness ; besides, he had 

 come up from Harrow with great school friends 

 at other colleges than Christ Church, and 

 Tufnell of Brasenose was a greater friend and a 

 more constant companion in shooting and other 

 pursuits than any one of the Christ Church men. 

 I was also a great friend, but not so intimate as 

 I afterwards became, for I had not been with 

 him at Harrow, as was the case with Tufnell 

 and some other Oxford men. 



' This revolt against the prevalent ideas of 

 members of " The House " was perhaps the only 

 thing that interfered at all with Tom Powys's 

 well- deserved popularity, and I rejoice to think- 

 that as an " out-college man " I gained his 

 friendship at Oxford, and retained it to the end 

 of his life. 



1 At Oxford he could not be said to read much, 



F. 2 



