HERTFORD: MY SCHOOL LIFE 47 



till I was well again. Then, before going back to Latin 

 grammar and other studies of the period, a little incident or 

 interlude occurred which I am unable to place at any other 

 period. How it came about I do not at all remember, but a 

 gentleman farmer from Norfolk must have come to see us 

 about some business, possibly connected with my sister and 

 her desired occupation as a governess, and seeing me, and 

 perhaps hearing of my recent illness, offered to take me home 

 with him for a visit to play with his boy of about my age, and 

 to go to Cromer, where his wife, with her sister and son, 

 were going for change of air. As it was thought that the 

 change would do me good, and I was delighted at the idea 

 of going to such a nice seaside place as Cromer, his offer was 

 kindly accepted. As it happened we did not go to Cromer, 

 but my visit was, so far as I remember, an enjoyable one. 

 We went by coach to Ely, where we stayed the night at a 

 large inn almost joining the cathedral. No doubt we had had 

 dinner on the way, and I had tea on our arrival, but my host, 

 whose name I cannot remember, dined with a large party of 

 gentlemen — probably a farmers' dinner — about six o'clock, 

 and he told me to walk about and see the shops or wait in 

 the hall, and I should come in for dessert. So for more than 

 an hour I wandered up and down the street near the hotel 

 and past the great entrance to the cathedral. At last a serv- 

 ant came and called me in, and my friend bade me sit beside 

 him, and introduced me to the company as a real Wallace — 

 " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled," he added, I suppose to 

 show what he meant. Then I had fruit of many kinds, in- 

 cluding fine grapes, and a glass of wine, and after an hour 

 more went to bed. 



In the morning, after breakfast, we started in a chaise 

 which had been sent from my friend's home overnight to 

 meet him, and we had a long drive to the farm, where we 

 arrived early in the afternoon, and found dinner ready for us. 

 There were, I think, two ladies, my friend's wife and her 

 sister, a boy about my own age, and I think the lady's brother, 

 who had come some miles on a pony to meet us, and rode 

 back alongside of the carriage. 



