8 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. i. 



to the Grammar School. The elder Whewell, 

 who was a man of much good sense, objected 

 to the expense of such a proceeding, and the 

 loss of his son's assistance. But Mr. Rowley, 

 being of an exceedingly practical as well as 

 generous nature, offered to bear the expense of 

 books and fees himself. Young Whewell there- 

 fore joined the school. Considerably Owen's 

 senior, he had been at the school some little time 

 when the latter entered. 



At that time Owen did not apparently ex- 

 hibit any marked fondness for study. He would 

 speak feelingly of a day which recurred at regular 

 intervals, known as ' Black Monday,' when 

 the misdemeanours of the week, which were 

 allowed to accumulate until they reached a hideous 

 climax, were expiated by the infliction of the 

 extreme penalty of the law. It was remarked 

 that the pains and penalties had somehow or other 

 increased since Whewell's advent to the school, 

 and it was acutely surmised that his precocious 

 relish for mathematics and study in general had 

 considerably raised the standard of work. This 

 was felt to be too much. Whewell was a big 

 strong fellow, but Owen, deeming that there was 

 safety in numbers and a big brother, was loud in 

 his taunting expressions of disgust. Whewell 

 thought it high time to administer a reproof to 

 one so much his junior both in school standing 

 and age, and upon the big brother, James Owen, 



