Yorkshire; he there wrote to his cousin Mary Sidgwick, mother of his future wife: June 3rd. I have had a day of you; would that it could have been more than in thinking of you only-you may guess how well it hit my fancy when W., who is here for the week, proposed this morning a walk over the moor to Barden Tower that he might hook some trout: we arrived there and proceeded up the river from the bridge, he whipping the waters and I feeling rather too slow for him. Presently I said I would walk to the Abbey by myself, and that if he would aim thitherward I would meet him again. Off I set glad, and half crying, in a breath to be there again once more. How much I thought of you, and how much I wished for you, you may well fancy that, and the now perpetually recurring thought of what will become of me, and what I shall do, engrossed my thoughts I think. And the ever-glorious, and the sacred scenes of Bolton, for such I feel them to be in a way that I cannot describe, nor very fully account for, did my heart and mind worlds of good. When I reached the Abbey by the stepping-stones, I went first to the Graves'. The two were in nice order. I cleaned out the word Presbyter, which was obscured, and freed the Cross from some decayed leaves which had gathered on it, but I did not disturb the green moss till I heard from you. If it will not hurt the stone, its light fresh green is beautiful and touching too. I did the same by the others. Saturday, June 5th. Once again round Bolton by Haughton thro' the woods and back by Barden Tower. I never felt anywhere as I do at Bolton, my German books I cannot keep open there. I have all the while I am there a perfect Sunday-feel. What glorious work it would be to set up as I first thought five years ago that place once more, if it with its woods could be obtained as a nursery for priests-for young clergy and candidates to study in, and a home for aged or disabled clergy with their families. Meanwhile Walk about Sion and Go round about her and Tell the towers thereof, Mark well her bulwarks—and then, if the Lord will, we may one day Set up her houses. I have been pulling up grass, feeling and knocking to-day, and feel sure that a removal of two feet of earth would give a 1 Of Mrs Sidgwick's husband and infant son. There are many other graves of the families of Carr and Crofts there, within the ruined choir. complete ground-plan of the buildings, Chapter House, &c. on the South Side. The South Side of Nave, by removal of Cloisters has been much weakened, is bulging and likely to fall. The following extracts from his diary of 1852 describe how the news about the Chancellor's Medal reached him. Well, to Bristol we went. Had a delightful party at dinner at Mrs Sidgwick's, and established ourselves delightfully at No. 2 Belgrave Terrace, houses just built and delightfully situated overlooking the whole extent of Durdham Down, there being no houses to face them, and giving a peep of the Severn and occasionally of the Welsh mountains. A place, a time full of interest to me for my whole life, either as the first outspringing of a great blessing, or to be for ever looked back upon with vexation of spirit. GOD grant the former. But more of this presently. It was known that the Classical Tripos list was to be published on Thursday the 25th of March, and for this I was anxiously waiting, as were all my home-friends, to say nothing of my Cambridge friends. But to the former I had said nothing of the Medal Examination, as never supposing that it would yield me any fruit. I only begged all my friends to be satisfied if I were fourth or fifth in the Tripos list, but I had secret hopes that I might perhaps be bracketed with Hammond, and so indeed had most Cambridge friends though never expecting me to beat or even equal Macnaghten'. Up till Wednesday evening I had preserved a tolerably cheerful countenance, though with not unfrequent quailings, and heavings of the heart and stretching of arms, &c.—when as we were all seated round Mrs Sidgwick's table a large party, and I at one end, in the middle of a long story, the door opened opposite to my right hand, and "if you please Sir," said Chacey, "a gentleman from Cambridge wishes to see you." For a moment owing to the nervousness I suffered I felt a blank horror and showed it, but as a great relief it occurred to me that it would surely be Whittard with whom I had a glorious walk in Blaise Castle Woods a day before, or Westcott whom I knew he was expecting. But no-by this time I was in the hall and it was Mr Martin himself, in great coat, muffled all round the face with shawls, and his hat and carpet-bag 1 Now Lord Macnaghten. in one hand-"Well, how are you?"-"Oh, very well, Sir,” breathless "how are you?" "Very well." My only idea was that all the evil rumours which as I knew had been circulating about my place in the Classical Tripos were about to prove too true, and that he was come to break it to me, though the list itself would not be out till next day. "Well, I am come to bring you news from Cambridge-good news," he added. "Oh! what?" "Well, you've got the Senior Medal." "No! Impossible I don't believe it!" "You have though, and Macnaghten the second." Well, by this time I was in the room again, and Mr M. also, all hands upon him, and all mouths enquiring what the Medal was. "Why the highest of the University honours," he said, I remember, "the last and greatest" -and I had positively achieved that. I couldn't believe it. I remember executing some extraordinary jumps, and the consequence was that I had next to catch hold of, and lean my head against the door. And now everybody with one hand was shaking me and with the other undressing Mr Martin. When Frisk who had long been distressed by the excitement, and had now fully made up his mind that I was at the bottom of it, gave one bark, and made a rush at my leg, and shook the trouser furiously. This restored us all to our senses. Mr Martin's disrobing was quietly finished and he sat down to tea. What an evening that was. How happy everyone looked, and how kindly they looked, and how blithe we were to hear how Mr M. had been waiting at the Vice-Chancellor's door in the morning till the University Marshal came out and acquainted him with the decision as soon as it was made. And how he set off to run nowhere, and suddenly pulled up, quite surprised at himself, and how soon after he found that he was running again and still nowhere, and at last went to several of my friends, and at Ellis's was so breathless that he was obliged to take a piece of paper to write it, and at Scott's was so queer that the Prince who was reading with him said "Der Herr ist be-something," meaning "amazed," and when he got at last to his own rooms Bateson came straight from the Vice-Chancellor's and reminding him how he (B.) had joked him before the examination about "his friend Benson," with a "We've got two better than he is for the Medal,” now came with a kind palinode to tell him all about the votes, and that the decision was unanimous. Ah! well-a-day, never again shall I enjoy such an evening, for it was the reward, full and precious, of long labour against hope. Brother and sisters, aunt and cousins, and Miss Crofts, "what eyes were in their head!" and Mr Martin was folding my hand all evening into all shapes, and dear little Minnie, now with one, now with both arms round my neck, stroking my hair, patting my forehead-there was not one happiness wanting-yes, one, which I then felt, a more definite consciousness that the three whose work has been done now several years were sympathising with this bright gleam in the course of my work. But be it so, or be it not so-It is well, I know-All is well. There was never a night to me before or since when with the same feeling of thankfulness and perfect restfulness I laid my head on the pillow. I awoke several times in the night. But it was always to one calm happy feeling of, GOD has blest me. B. 1. 8 CHAPTER IV. RUGBY. "For sure then I should grow To fruit or shade: at least some bird would trust GEO. HERBERT. My father settled down at Cambridge after his degree in his rooms in the New Court, looking out upon the Backs; one of his windows was so close to the window of the library that it was almost possible (quite possible, |