Eccentricities and Absence of Mind. 191 



straits in consequence. Happily he had a 

 faithful friend ever near at hand, in the 

 person of an old woman, who kept an apple - 

 stall in the Strand. From her he continually 

 borrowed small sums (seldom exceeding six- 

 pence in amount), to be punctually repaid 

 the following day. In another way he also 

 repaid them by little kindnesses, as for 

 example, when he met her one evenng, 

 wending her way home, in a pouring rain, 

 without any umbrella. Forthwith he shel- 

 tered her beneath his own till she reached 

 the desired haven. He enjoyed to the full 

 the amazement of two or three fashionable 

 friends whom they encountered by the way. 

 On various occasions he sturdily refused 

 large sums of money (often sorely needed 

 at home), which were pressed upon him by 

 the owners of large herds in grateful recog- 

 nition of services rendered. He declared 

 that such gifts might be looked on as calcu- 

 lated to warp his judgment, or fetter the 

 uncompromising freedom of his decisions. 

 Similarly, when he had given most valu- 

 able help and support to Mr. Rarey, the 

 horse-tamer, during the many months of the 



