Recollections of George John Cayley 



— and so over many ridges and into many valleys. The 

 riders came home at eve counting height and depth as 

 day and night — to rest after a week of travelling, or so 

 they said. 



At the simple entertainments that in those days were 

 given in Algiers, Mr. Cayley might be seen or he might 

 not. If he were in the mood he went, if he were not he 

 stayed away ; he indulged his moods and made no effort to 

 control them. Whether he went or not, he wished his 

 neighbours to go, and if he stopped at home he liked them 

 to come back and tell him who was there and what was 

 said. If, when they returned, lights were still burning in 

 the Maison Cayley, the neighbours tapped on the glass and 

 entered through the window, to be given supper of bread 

 and Majorca cheese and wine. Mr. Cayley did not despise 

 gossip or discourage it ; but it must be short and to the 

 point, and by no means of necessity charitable. He was 

 amused by what went on around him, by the little dramas 

 in real life played before him or told to him. 



Once he acted " Petruchio " ; once he coached his 

 neighbours in their parts. He had a taste for costume, 

 especially for the costume of any country he was in. In 

 Algiers he often wore some modification of Arab dress, 

 which became him very well. So clothed he could be seen 

 hammering metal — gold, silver or brass — into strange, beauti- 

 ful shapes. He might then talk delightfully to a visitor or 

 he might be silent, replying, if reply he did, by a shrug, a 

 lifted eyebrow, a mouth half opened for a moment, and, on 

 second thoughts, shut to and nothing said. Sometimes his 

 gates were closed against all comers — perhaps the family 

 had colds, and on the gates was pinned a notice that 

 " Toute la famille Cayley est tres malade ; on est pri6 de ne 

 pas entrer." 



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