Further Reminiscences. 129 



which greatly affected his sight, and com- 

 pelled him to confine himself to a dark 

 room. He was told by his Doctor that 

 unless lie would keep his head covered in 

 church it would not be safe for him to attend 

 divine service. Accordingly he lost no time 

 in repairing to his barber, from whom he 

 purchased a flaming red wig of scanty di- 

 mensions — so much too small, indeed, for 

 his head, that it left a fringe of his own 

 black hair plainly perceptible under the red 

 covering. As he walked up the nave his 

 tall figure commanded general attention, and 

 an audible titter ran round the church. 

 Utterly unconscious of the merriment he 

 was exciting, "The Druid" stalked solemnly 

 into his pew and took his seat by the side 

 of his wife. Presently the suppressed laugh- 

 ter swelled into an irrepressible roar, and the 

 cause of this indecorous scene at length took 

 in the situation. Shocked at the unseemly 

 mirth he rose from his pew and walked 

 slowly out of church, shaking as it were, 

 the dust off his feet as he left the building. 

 A. time came, all too soon to both of them, 

 when they had to exchange their cosy home 



