174 CENTURY OF ENGLISH FOX-HUNTING 



tlieir games, though he is reported to have jumped 

 a gate six feet high on the Barby Road, which for 

 many years afterwards was pointed out as Dixon's 

 gate. The first time that the lady who subsequently 

 became his wife ever saw " The Druid " was at 

 Rugby, when a boy pointed him out to her, saying, 

 " Look at that ass ! He never joins in any of our 

 games or sports, but writes everlasting yarns for 

 Bell's Life." The lady was then fifteen, and " The 

 Druid " seventeen years of age. 



In 1841 "The Druid" went to Trinity College, 

 Cambridge, where he had the reputation of being as 

 shy as a woodcock. This shyness never left him. 

 Cambridge did not give him the partiality for horse- 

 flesh which the proximity to Newmarket often im- 

 parts to her pupils, and which " The Druid " after- 

 wards acquired to such an extent. On the contrary, 

 he was studious and retired, evincing predilections 

 in favour of the classics. Unfortunately, his deadly 

 foe, ophthalmia, constantly interfered with his studies, 

 and in mathematics he had to be content with the 

 humble place of " wooden spoon." At this critical 

 time he proposed to Miss Caroline Lynes, third 

 daughter of Thomas Lynes, Esq., of Hackleton 

 House, Northampton, and was met with a refusal. 

 This so deranged his health that brain fever ensued. 

 But upon further acquaintance Miss Lynes was in- 

 duced to change her mind, and they were married 

 on the 1 2th of May, 1847. ^^ this time "The 

 Druid " was settled in Doncaster, where he was pre- 



