THE EXHIBITIONS 143 



two-hours paper before breakfast, another after breakfast, 

 and another in the afternoon. It was well for me that 

 the examiners were appointed by the vice-chancellors 

 of the universities and were not masters of the school. 

 The Exhibitions were given at the rate of five each year, 

 and of values varying from 80 to 40 a year, tenable for 

 four years. The subjects for examination were Divinity, 

 Classics, Mathematics, Modern Languages and History. 



It is something in the nature of torture to be really 

 strung up for such a lengthy test as this was and to carry 

 on right through it. There are some who can stand it 

 with equanimity, but to me it meant being unable to 

 eat or to sleep, except to a very limited extent, until the 

 thing was over ; and then there was relief for I did not 

 doubt that all was well and that "Farewell Banquet" 

 came as a blessed change. " The famous Babington " 

 made a speech worthy of his fame, and the function was 

 a very successful one all round. Then came the news that 

 the results were out Warner had got the first Exhibition, 

 I secured the second, Darcy Bruce Wilson the third, 

 Stuart Wortley the fourth, and Stevenson the fifth. 



Thus for me there was 70 a year for four years, and the 

 pleasure of gaining it was almost entirely due to the feeling 

 that I had scored off those Radical assistant masters. 

 Warner well deserved his place, for he was a good all-round 

 man, whereas I did not attempt to touch the Modern 

 Language and Algebra papers. I was well in front on the 

 Classics, but not by quite a sufficient margin to make 

 good these shortcomings. 



It was conveyed to me indirectly, a few days later, that 

 some of the recalcitrant masters "insolent ushers" 

 thought I ought to give up my Exhibition in favour of 

 someone who really needed it, which, financially, 1 did not ; 

 but this intimation only increased my pleasure in what 

 I had done, for it seemed to show that the iron had entered 

 into the souls of my adversaries. 



Such motives and sentiments may have been very 

 unpraiseworthy, and perhaps unjustifiable, but they 



