262 REMINISCENCES OF 



and that hurt more. I jumped one more fence and 

 then found that it would not do. I was about three 

 miles from Cliff, and Charlie Newdegate would insist 

 on riding home with me, and preached about the 

 Pope and the Jesuits the whole time. When I got 

 to Cliff I cut my boot off. 

 I wrote to my wife : 



" CLIFF HOUSE, ATHERSTONE, 



" Tuesday, 8th December, 1863. 



"After I wrote to you last night Mrs. Oakeley 

 insisted on sending for the doctor. He said going 

 home to-morrow was out of the question, that I must 

 not go for at least a week, and that the small bone 

 at the ankle was broken. So I suppose it is, and 

 there is nothing to be done but be patient. It does 

 not hurt. I don't care much for myself, but I am 

 sorry to give you anxiety about it, and you won't 

 be able to realise it, as you say. 



" To say that they are kind is nothing. They 

 think and do all day everything for me, and Mrs. 

 Oakeley is writing to ask you to come and bring all the 

 children. That is out of the question, I have told her, 

 but she says ' Bring Jack '. I don't know what to say 

 to you to do. Of course, I should like you to be with 

 me, but you would not like the children to be without 

 you, and I think a journey here and back would be a 

 risk for Jack. You and Doodlie must take counsel and 

 settle for yourselves, and I shall be resigned to my fate." 



1 was at Cliff from 7th December till nth 

 January, and was very happy all the time, and 



