60 MEMORIES OF MY LIFE 



for most of the excursions, so the whole morning was 

 left free for reading. Matheson, the mathematical 

 tutor, was a well-known Fellow of Trinity College, a 

 considerable pianist and a good walker. He also 

 knew the country and many of its residents. Among 

 these was the Rev. Frederic Myers (1811-1851), 

 Vicar of Keswick, who had married into the 

 Marshall family, and who showed me much kindness. 

 He was father to the as yet unborn poet and 

 spiritualist, Frederic W. H. Myers (1843-1901), and 

 his house was a social centre. 



I saw a most amusing scene in its drawing-room, 

 which those who recollect the formidable presence of 

 Dr. Whewell will appreciate. All male animals, 

 including men, when they are in love, are apt to 

 behave in ways that seem ludicrous to bystanders. 

 Whewell was not exempt from the common lot, 

 though he had to sustain his new dignity of " Master 

 of Trinity." He was then paying court to the lady who 

 became his first wife, and his behaviour reminded me 

 irresistibly of a turkey-cock similarly engaged. I 

 fancied that I could almost hear the rustling of his 

 stiffened feathers, and did overhear these sonorous 

 lines of Milton rolled out to the lady a propos of 

 I know not what, " cycle and epicycle, orb and orb," 

 with hollow o's and prolonged trills on the r's. 



The following skit indicates the feeling in regard 

 to Whewell's manner that was current in Cambridge 

 after he had assumed his office. I was reminded 

 of it not so very many months ago, by the late 

 Lord Kelvin : 



"You may roam where you will through the realms of infinity 

 And find nothing so great as the Master of Trinity." 



