io8 " MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE ! " 



Doctor that he regained his equilibrium without apparent 

 loss of dignity. Altogether the night was one of wild 

 and ecstatic revel, and special supplies of food and coffee 

 kept us going until the fire was got under. 



It did not seem, in the morning, to have been such a 

 merry sport. Many of our studies had been burnt out 

 and most of them had been damaged, as had clothes, etc., 

 in some of the bedrooms ; but it was near the end of term 

 and we all made out claims on the Insurance Company 

 concerned, so that everything was pretty well restored by 

 the time we came back after the holidays. I remember 

 I got a new top hat as an item in my compensation. 

 Moreover, by the next term I had got a new study all 

 to myself, as already stated, and the coveted Davenport 

 I somehow managed to retain probably I bought it 

 from the winner of it, after the raffle. 



The next study to mine, on the left as you went out 

 into the passage, was occupied by Stevenson, who had also 

 got into the Vlth and was very conscientious over his 

 duties ; beyond him again there was a study containing 

 Ernest Robert Still, who entered our house in September, 

 1866, being then fourteen years of age. With him in 

 his study was, if I remember rightly, R. F. Johnson. 

 They were not at that time in the Upper School, but Still, 

 in particular, I should have mentioned ere this indeed 

 he is already mentioned in the Prologue for he became 

 a close friend of mine as the terms passed on. 



A letter which now comes to hand seems to suggest that 

 I should here narrate Stevenson's ghost story, though it 

 may be rather premature. The letter which was written 

 during that winter term says : 



I did not go to Stratford after all but had a good hunt instead, 

 which was in my opinion much better. Jester arrived quite well, 

 and very pleased to see me. He is in lodgings at a shilling a week. 



'-' Hunt '- means following hounds on foot. 



Jester, I may say, was my young fox-terrier dog by old 

 Jock out of Cottingham Nettle, and he was destined to gain 



