46 WANDERINGS AND MEMORIES 



worked assiduously and never did anything wrong. 

 He was his " star " pupil, whom disreputable people 

 like myself, Fitzwilliam and Johnny Thynne ^ were 

 always invited to copy. Shortly before the final 

 exams. I absented myself without leave for a week, 

 and " Jimmy " promptly sacked me, but as I took 

 no notice of my dismissal, and returned to Lexham 

 Gardens in the following week, things went on as 

 usual, because the " chief " did not come round 

 again and visit the rooms. Eventually when the 

 lists came out and I heard I had passed (I was 

 playing a salmon on the River Naver at the moment) 

 there was one real joy to be experienced — I was 

 several places ahead of the star. 



Owing to the interest of Sir Garnet Wolseley 

 (Lord Wolseley), I got a commission in the Scots 

 Guards, in which I remained exactly four days, 

 being then transferred to the 2nd Battalion Seaforth 

 Highlanders. 



At that time Army life in Edinburgh was very 

 pleasant, and I was soon hard at drill and very 

 happy in the companionship of the best set of men 

 in the world. The British officer needs no eulogy 

 from me, and I found my comrades all that I had 

 expected of them. 



When work was over there was much gaiety and 

 dancing in those days, and in the autumn there was 

 always plenty of leave for shooting and fishing. 

 The Colonel was very generous about leave for 

 sport, but could not see any other reason for its 



^ Lord John Thynne. He eventually got into the 10th 

 Hussars, and was accidentally killed, owing to his horse falling 

 on the tramlines in York. He was a charming personality, 

 and one of the handsomest men I have ever seen. 



