Tom Brownings Schooldays

Tom Browning's Schooldays

By

Joel

Chapter FortyNine

We walked carefully towards Jopling for the ground off the pathway was scuffed and very muddy. Also it was very gloomy in the less than half light. He was hatless and one boot seemed to be almost twisted off his foot.

"What happened?" demanded Maitland who went to stand over him.

"Leave me be!" Jopling moaned. "Don't kick me again!"

He must have been dazed and thought he was going to be attacked afresh.

Maitland bent down and turned him over. The side of his face was bloodied and he put a protective hand up which was also gory. The rest of us walked nearer. I espied his top hat, somewhat crushed, thrown into a bush. His elegant cloak was muddied and his fine black trousers were split above his boot.

"Who did this?" George demanded. "Some of your drunken friends, eh?"

Jopling shook his head. "No friends now," he answered softly. "They had drunk all the claret at luncheon and when I said I had no more they ran me here, kicked me and said I was a liar." He sobbed again. "I would be better dead. They want no friendship but just what they can get."

"It was Fairclough and Castleton I warrant," George said vehemently, "They sat behind me in Chapel and stank of drink. Castleton farted his way through the hymn and pretended to snore through the rest of the service."

"I heard him say he would be on the brandy this evening," Branscombe added.

Jopling realised we were not there to torment him. He was nonetheless wary, as I could see. "I wish I could leave this place," he said morosely, "I hate and abhor all here especially those drunken sots I have to keep supplied with liquor."

"So we have heard," George said coolly. He stood over Jopling. "Get up, man, and let Browning here look at your injuries."

"I ache where they kicked me," he said as he sat up and tried to rise. Theo put out an arm and Jopling levered himself up. His trousers were not only split but wet and muddied. He put a hand against his chest. "They kicked me here."

George was not at all sympathetic. "They will not have broken anything as neither of them were wearing heavy boots. Fairclough and Castleton, eh?" he demanded again.

"I will not tell," said Jopling, "But you can believe what you please."

George snorted. I stepped nearer and said, "If you wish I will examine any injuries you have but there is not enough light here."

Jopling looked at me askance, as if I were nothing but a dog's turd on the carpet. He must have recognised me finally for his face changed. "Browning, eh? I heard Fraser say you cured his ankle. You are young to be a physician?"

George snorted again. "He may be young but be assured he will gauge correctly if there is any damage."

Maitland pulled at Jopling's arm. "Come with us. You may wait in our washroom. We will find a lantern and Master Browning will give his opinion."

A still groggy Jopling was helped along to the washroom door. It was dark inside but the fire under the copper was still alight. I said I would go and retrieve what I thought might be needed as I surmised there would be bruising to be treated. Robin followed me and observed I had a good heart. He said he could not forget that Jopling had been most condescending to the stablehands when he had been waiting for his father's coach to be readied at the end of last term. Robin muttered that the oaf deserved his good kicking and Shem had put two shovels of well-rotted horseshit under the back seat in the coach to keep him and his two companions company on their way home to London. We chuckled quietly together at that good jape.

I soon found the bottle of arnica and the brush. More bruising and I would need a new supply! I was not concerned about the blood. I was sure it was caused by small cuts and abrasions from the kicks Jopling had received and was not serious. I considered a good dose of Epsom Salts would also be a kindness. He would be in Mr Pratt's privy away from his tormentors and could ruminate on his rudeness to others as he sat and shat. But I would not waste my store of even that on him!

When I returned to the washroom I found two lanterns had been procured and Jopling was shirtless and trouserless. It was provident that the copper fire was still lit and so warmed the room.

"Look here, Tom," Branscombe said as he held up one lantern, "There is a redness around his side and back and on his thigh and calf."

"I found a washcloth and I have cleaned his face," Theo said and pointed, "There is a small cut on his chin here and his hands were kicked and two cuts are almost dry."

George was laughing. "I hope when I am injured on the football field I may be nursed and tended with such care. Look Jopling, here is our apothecary with his potions!"

Lancelot had made great play of the distinctions between physicians, apothecaries and surgeons and the multitude of quacks and mountebanks who plied their doubtful or otherwise trades.

"Thank you, Master Branscombe," I said with the little authority I could muster and ignoring George's gentle jibe, "Let me feel for any breaks in his ribs." There was a look of fear on Jopling's face. I could see clearly the marks on his chest. I pressed over each rib in turn. He winced but there seemed to be no sign of any breaks. I then looked at his rather hairy thigh and skinny calf but these were merely bruised. I was in charge. "I do not think the kicking was very heavy." That comment would give Jopling something to think about. "There will be bruising but easily treated." I put a hand up to his face. He flinched away perhaps expecting a blow. "Stand still!" I commanded. Here was I a young newcomer to the School telling an almost eighteen-year-old Senior to do my bidding. He stood still as I felt his chin. He had been newly shaved that day though he sported a moustache. It was a slight cut caused by the welt of the boot most probably. It had been washed and was almost dry of blood. I pointed to his right hand. Again there was little damage. Two cuts just seeping blood. "I think we could tie a handkerchief about that hand," I said, "Your chin is dry now and there will be a scab which you must not disturb. I will treat your bruising now."

This was soon done though he did wince a couple of times when I pressed on his ribs again. While I was occupied Theo was holding up Jopling's cloak. "This is well-muddied but it is drying, too, like your bloodied chin," he said turning and pointing to where Jopling's other garments were laid over a wooden airing-stand. "Your tailcoat has mud on it but just needs a good brushing. Your trousers will need cleaning and repair. You are no taller than me so I will lend you a pair to make yourself decent. Let us call young Potts and he can take them to his brother who is at the tailor's."

Good-hearted Theo went out and soon returned with a pair of his own trousers and trailed by young Potts who was all agog and stood silently as I finished anointing Jopling's calf with arnica. Jopling was also silent. It was Maitland who took young Potts to the dirtied clothing and he and Theo instructed him on what should be done. George whispered to Jopling that he should get the trousers on and we could be soon rid of him. Young Potts solemnly said he would brush the tailcoat while he waited and would see that his brother Timothy repaired the damage to the trousers. I said to Jopling that if his aches continued he should consult Dr Dimbleby but I would tell him of what I had done.

George went over to Jopling. "You may not have friends in Mr Pratt's House but you see now how you have been treated by others as good Samaritans. You can free yourself of Fairclough by making your peace with Henderson. He may be slow-witted but he would be a stalwart companion and not even Fairclough would dare cross swords with him. Now, thank Master Browning and see that young Potts does not go unrewarded."

Jopling still seemed somewhat bemused. I had not checked if he had been kicked on his head but I was sure it was merely the way in which others had rallied to help him. I had only known him as arrogant but here he had been humbled. He looked at me and a slight smile was on his lips. "I thank you Master Browning," he said and bowed his head, "I would wish I had such good and careful treatment whenever needed. I am in your debt." I held up a hand dismissing this. "Thank you to you all for coming to my aid." He shook his head. "I have much to ponder."

We left him then with a lantern and young Potts who had found a brush and was already clearing dried mud from the cloak.

"Well done, Tom," Branscombe said as we entered the House, "You show some good teaching to be able to deal with such things." I said all was due to my cousin Lancelot and I was determined to follow in his footsteps. Branscombe patted me on the back. "And all that after your performance in Chapel." He turned on the stairs. "Where's that wretched fag of ours?" he called out and then laughed.

"I am here, master," came Robin's voice from the flight below, "Ever ready for your commands."

As Robin reached us Branscombe turned and ruffled his hair. "You have put us to shame already. That was fine playing by the pair of you. What is to come next?"

"A good beaker of hot posset," George said, "I am thirsty after all that busyness and it is not our evening meal time yet!"

We all gathered in the end room after casting off cloaks and hats and I and Robin set to and found there was some cordial left which we heated in the saucepan. There would be no alcoholic additions to this!

"That was a fine cloak and tailcoat Jopling had," said Theo as we sat sipping on the hot decoction, "His top hat was of brushed velvet, too."

Although I had little experience I had realised that some of the fellows in Pratt's House sported the most elegant clothing in the School. This was true especially on Sundays when they paraded like peacocks showing off their finery. Jopling was no exception.

"That comes of his father being an alderman in the City of London, so I have heard," Maitland said with a grin. "Alderman and purveyor of stocks and shares makes for a great deal of money!"

"Does he not have to be a liveryman?" asked Theo.

I did not know what he meant and George shrugged his shoulders.

"I do not know what Company he is in but one of Jopling's cronies told me last term that his father would be Lord Mayor in his turn," Maitland asserted.

"I did not know you consorted with the rabble in Pratt's," George said curling up the corner of his nose, "The further I am from them the better, I say."

Maitland laughed. "Worry not, dear George, it happens that Calder is kin. His mother is my father's cousin and for what it is worth he is not so sottish as many of the others there."

"Calder is in Prior's room with me and I did not know he was in Pratt's House," George said with a rather startled look. "I would not have thought he was in with that tribe of ne'er-do-wells."

"I do not know either why he is there but he is slow in his learning I think," Maitland said and took another sip of his drink.

"That I would agree," said George nodding, "Even I make more headway than he does. He is most amiable, though, and is good friends with Edwards who keeps us amused with his quips."

I had finished my beaker and stood up and asked to be excused as I wanted to find out how Aubrey Bayes was progressing. I slipped out and went along the passageway and tapped lightly on the door. Fraser opened it and smiled when he saw me. He beckoned me in. Bayes was still lying on the big bed but he, too, was smiling .

"I hae telled him not to speak," said Fraser, "He does'nae cough unless he forgets. That good doctor has been again and there's another draught for him for tonight and he can have some soup before."

I thought how good-natured and caring Fraser was in his concern for Aubrey. There was more to say, however.

"Ma friend Collett has gone to find some soft bread in the kitchen as the puir wee lad is hungry."

The poor little lad smiled at me and nodded and pointed to his throat but did not attempt to speak.

"The doctor remarked you said well when you declared that a hot compress to his throat would be good," Fraser said and then pointed to a saucepan heating on the trivet. "I will prepare another in a moment. It must not be too hot."

I said I would assist and found there were two forks to hold the cloth while it was immersed in the water. It was not too hot as I was able to wring the cloth out easily and then laid it across Bayes' throat. He smiled again. He was obeying instructions.

Just as I had finished so Collett returned with two piece of well-buttered soft bread. Fraser helped Bayes sit up and he was fed. He nodded his thanks.

I said that if any further medicine was needed I knew what Dr Dimbleby had mixed and I could provide it. I left them then and returned to my own room. The others were still gossipping in the other room. After lighting a couple of candles I sat and contemplated the day's happenings. For a Sunday it had been most busy. I felt that Robin and I had acquitted ourselves well and was pleased we would have more instruction from Mr Skrimshire. I wondered if Robin might find the pace somewhat tiring. We had our schoolwork, games, extra work for him with Mr Dimbleby, Mr Ridley's classes and now the organ, as well as our steeds to be exercised. I had found my time well-filled last term and here we were with extras! Including my duty of physicking my schoolfellows!

It was soon time for our evening meal as George came along with Theo grumbling that he was hungry. Neither I nor Theo commented on this and I think George wondered why we were silent. Theo just grinned at me and I nodded. We had heard it all before, that George was a growing boy!

As we sat and devoured the cold meats and bread in the dining hall I was questioned about Bayes. I had not realised how many friends he had made for it was not only fellows on our landing who enquired. I was sitting next to Branscombe and remembered he had a 'cousin' who was also destined for a career in the Navy, he had said as a Naval Instructor, perhaps. I asked if he had spoken to his father about the College in London where Bayes' father was a professor. He said he had and his father was most interested and would write to Professor Bayes for his advice. Branscombe then said he was most proud to be a friend of George's as he showed such goodness of heart even to a pompous fool such as Jopling. A real St George! We did have a grin at that.

I did not say anything but wondered if Jopling would want an adornment such as his older brother was contemplating. I had noted that his trousers which had been most easily split were cut to be very narrow in the leg and if they were any tighter about the waist and below there would be even more evidence of any bulge.

Others had news of sufferers in other Houses. There were now several with chills and coughs and one of the boys with croup had been taken to the Sick Room in Big School where he could be nursed by the Matron there. The cold weather was blamed for all these cases but that set me wondering. If it was just the coldness, which we all experienced, why were we not all sniffing and coughing? More to discuss with Lancelot.

So Sunday came to an end and the first complete week of school started. I saw Dr Dimbleby at the bottom of the stairs as I went to breakfast on Monday morning. He greeted me most warmly and said when I was a physician I would be seeing my first patients often before breakfast. He did admit he had already eaten at his father's table that morning. He was to see Aubrey Bayes and then send Maitland to have his tooth drawn while he went his rounds of the other patients. He said that at some time I could accompany him but he knew I had to attend my lessons today. Maitland came down the stairs as we chatted and he was directed to where the chaise had been left behind the House. He did not look very happy.

Over breakfast George announced that he was asking Mr Ridley to look after his promissary note as he had decided it was unwise to spend it all on mere indulgences. He would decide later and make a list of items he thought he needed but did not possess and then apportion the money when he knew their cost. I think it was Preston who said that such a decision would tax the most noted philosopher as knowing what one did not know one needed would require a deal of careful cogitation. I didn't think that George understood that fully! But, as Theo remarked, George was being prudent which did cheer George somewhat.

At luncheon Maitland was back and asserted he was starving as he had missed breakfast. He opened his mouth to display the bloody hole left where the tooth had been drawn. He was glad the tooth had gone but he accused Dr Dimbleby of not telling him who the tooth drawer would be. He said that the coachman had given him a phial of liquid which he had to drink before they started off. I surmised this was probably an elixir containing poppy-juice as he said he felt quite drowsy as they drove through Ashbourne. The young tooth drawer was a farrier who, even before Maitland had got out of his seat, had bent over him telling him to open his mouth and point to the tooth. He had no sooner done this when the young man had gripped the tooth with his pincers and it was out and a piece of linen was pressed to the hole to stem any bleeding.

"I was too startled to feel any hurt and we had almost driven back here before I realised the tooth had gone and I had no ache," he said and we had to inspect the hole again. "I hope I do not have another cracked tooth but if I do I would recommend Dr Dimbleby, his draught and that farrier." He looked at me. "But I would also ask young Browning here for immediate help."

I made a mental note to ask Dr Dimbleby about the strength of that potion as Maitland then said he had gone back to bed on his return and had missed all his lessons. He had slept soundly until Branscombe had completed morning school and woke him up.

As this first week of term continued both Robin and I worked hard at our lessons and generally sat in a row with Aubrey, the French-speaking Johnson twins and Pederson. We were all friendly and most days ran to the baker's shop at break times and often treated each other to pain d'epices or raisin buns which filled empty holes before our next meal. Aubrey knew a little French so he joined in the sometimes halting conversations we had as we translated back and forth and consumed our gingerbread.

There were football games each afternoon but I and Robin went running on two afternoons with others not interested in the rough and tumble. Two days I went riding but Robin experienced his first game of School football on Tuesday afternoon and joined George and others in the mud. He emerged unscathed and said the only rule seemed to be to kick the ball, or the fellow on the other side who was also trying to kick it.

Before riding out on Tuesday I asked Mr Pretyman's permission to take young Freddy Neville with us. He was most delighted and rode well. On both days there were several of us in the group which also included Maitland. He had not brought Perseus with him this term so chose a fine piebald gelding for his mount from those kept in the stable. We had good rides on both days just keeping to the roads and went as far as the further side of Ashbourne on one. Maitland said we might ride out for a whole day in the Summer and get to near Dove Dale as there was fine country there.

It was on the second ride that young Freddy Neville asked a favour. He said his friend Horsey was missing being able to ride and if Maitland was able to borrow a steed perhaps there might be at least a pony available for another. I said we would ask and as Natty was riding a little ahead I rode to him and questioned him on the state of the stable. He said he thought there were two ponies kept which the younger stable-boys used for their errands. I then asked Freddy about his friend. I thought it was a strange name.

Freddy laughed. "We call him Horsey as his name is Palfrey. That's a horse." I did know that but could not belittle the lad by telling him so. "He's my friend as well as Lawson," he went on, "His father is a clergyman like mine and he digs things up, too. He knew about my coins but I don't think his father has any so fine."

I found that Mr Pretyman was looking after the coins and had said they were quite valuable. Freddy said Palfrey's father had been to Italy on a Grand Tour and had named his son Marcus Aurelius, a famous Ancient Roman.

I said I thought he had been an emperor and we laughed when Freddy said he had better not tell him that or he might make them all bow down to him for that was even a higher title than Paulton's father had.

On Thursday after we returned from our ride both Robin and I had a lesson with Mr Skrimshire on the Chapel organ. I played through another of Mr Stanley's Voluntaries and Mr Skrimshire showed how I could improve on the way I placed my fingers for the quicker passages. He said he would teach us some of Dr Wesley's pieces and others by Mr Boyce. We found that Herbert who pumped the bellows was one of the School gardeners and Mr Skrimshire was teaching him as well for Herbert wished to play the organ for services in the church in Ashbourne.

Friday came and at the end of afternoon school when others were to play games Robin and I went with Theo and a now much-recovered Aubrey Bayes to Mr Ridley's class in his house. As usual young Barney opened the door on our arrival. He welcomed each of us by name, even 'Master Goodhew'. He must have been primed though I knew from what Robin had told me Barney was well-known to the stable-lads. He often brought leftovers from the Ridley's kitchen as extras for them.

Mr Ridley was already sitting behind his desk as we entered his study. Most of the others were also there including Winstanley who was just placing a wooden box and a hammer on the desk. When we were all assembled Mr Ridley introduced Robin who blushed and everyone smiled as all knew his story by now. We then had to introduce ourselves to Robin who took it all in his stride. I noted Baring gave him a most beaming smile.

Mr Ridley said he was sorry we had not been able to meet the week before but he was very involved in School matters and he had been dealing with problems of acquiring more land. No more was said on this but there were some of us who already knew what those problems might be.

We were then told that Winstanley would demonstrate and talk about some interesting properties of materials we had around us. He started by asking what we knew about glass. It was soon established that our knowledge was scanty. It was acknowledged that it was generally transparent, but it might be coloured as in stained glass in church windows. We had all seen bottles, jars and other artefacts which generally broke in pieces when dropped. Baring had spectacles and said that lenses could be made. I spoke up and commented that if ordinary light was shone through a prism it was broken into the spectrum of colours. Even this last was not common knowledge we found. Winstanley then produced a small sheet of glass from his box which he placed on a piece of cloth laid on the desk.

"You are agreed then if I strike this with the hammer I have here it will break?" he asked. We all nodded and I wondered why he was asking such a simple question. "Let us demonstrate this." He turned to Preston who was sitting next to me. "You may break it for us." He handed him the hammer but before doing so he folded the cloth over the small pane. As expected there was a cracking sound as Preston hit the cloth. Winstanley unfolded it and as anticipated the glass had been shattered. "So this is what you believe and expect. Hit a piece of glass with a hammer and it shatters?"

Baring laughed. "I threw a cricket ball at my brother and it missed him and it certainly shattered a window." We all agreed we had experienced the breaking of glass of whatever kind.

Winstanley then put his hand in the box and drew out several smallish spheres of glass each with a short tail. He went round all of us and gave us each one to hold. They looked like glass tadpoles but with a very thin tail.

After we had inspected them he continued. "My father is most interested in all the ways in which things are manufactured. His latest interest has been in the production of glass in large quantities. Glass has been known from before Roman times but it is only recently that the manufacture of glass has been made less costly with the discovery of easy means of continuously providing great heat."

I knew that glass in the past was too expensive for more than the rich. I had read of the use of horn for small windows and that most people in olden days just had shutters to keep out the weather. Even now there were a few poor cottages in Careby which did not have window glass and I could imagine how dark it would be in houses having to rely on candlelight or firelight all the time especially in the winter time. One of Aunt Matty's battles was trying to get the Squire and Miss Barnes, who owned most of these cottages, to have windows put in just as Steven Goodhew had done with the barn he worked in.

Winstanley continued by asking us if we knew what materials were used in the manufacture of glass. Everyone shook their heads but Robin put up his hand. "I have heard it is made of sand which is heated."

Winstanley smiled. "That is correct, but only in part. First, you need a good supply of fine sand to which is added other ingredients such as soda ash and lime."

At least most of knew what lime was. It kept our privies more or less sweet. I wondered what soda ash could be but Preston was there before me. "What is 'soda ash'?" he asked, "Is it not something which the maids use when washing linen?"

"That is true. Soda ash is as it is named. Much of our soda ash is made from burning seaweed. The ash produced is placed in water, agitated, and then run through a fine sieve to remove anything unburnt. The liquid is heated and the residue after the water is boiled away is the soda ash you need." He took out three stoppered jars similar to those in my apothecary's box. "Here is sand, lime and soda ash," he said as he placed them on the desk.

"You do not propose making glass for us?" Mr Ridley asked, "You would need more heat than the fire in the grate here can provide."

"Sir, that is true, I would be hard-pressed to cause these to fuse together but in a furnace with a good heat these would melt together ready to be poured out."

"Poured out?" asked Baring, "What do you mean?"

"When it is very hot and a liquid the molten glass is poured into trays of sand where it flows and cools. The trays are made the size for most panes of glass though it can be cut with care."

Megson was getting a little restless. "We are not likely to be manufacturers of glass and we all know that glass breaks under the hammer, or when it is dropped, what else is there to know?" I thought he was most rude but he had asked, when Winstanley had shown Mr Faraday's coils, what use would this 'electricity' ever be? We did not know but all had found that demonstration interesting if not rather alarming when our muscles were set a-twitching.

"Ah, Megson," said Winstanley with a slight smile, "You are able to break glass with a hammer?"

Megson harumphed and muttered we had just seen it done.

"Please come and stand by the desk," Winstanley asked Megson. "You have that sphere of glass?" Megson stood and held up the object. "Would you place it on the linen, please? Under the linen is a piece of wood so Mr Ridley's desk will not be damaged," he explained. "I want you to take this hammer and hit that sphere."

Megson did as he was bid and tapped the glass sphere. It did not shatter.

"Please hit it harder," Winstanley instructed.

It was a sight. Megson hit the sphere three times more. Each time his blow was heavier. He shook his head and his fourth blow was very heavy. The glass did not shatter.

"It is not glass," said Megson with a smirk.

"I can assure you it is," Winstanley said and picked up the sphere. He took a wide- necked glass jar from the box and a pair of pincers such as our farriers used to extract nails from the horses' feet when they were prepared for new shoes. He placed the sphere within the jar with the tail pointing to the opening. He lightly closed the pincers on the tail and the sphere disappeared in a shower of shining particles and no more than a hiss.

We were spellbound. Winstanley took another sphere and repeated the nipping of the tail. The hiss and the shower of particles in the jar happened again.

He suggested we all try to break our spheres with the hammer but be careful not to hit the tail. No one managed to break the glass. Even Mr Ridley tried as well without success. We each then used the pincers and all the spheres exploded in the jar.

We all sat back and grinned at each other and even Megson shook his head in wonderment. Winstanley then said that the spheres were known as 'Prince Rupert's Drops' and were made when molten glass was dripped into cold water. Mr Ridley was nodding as Winstanley explained that Prince Rupert was King Charles the First's nephew and had fought in battles against the Roundheads. He had fled abroad during the Commonwealth years but returned when Charles the Second became King. He had presented Charles with some of the drops in 1660 and these were passed to the newly formed Royal Society for them to examine.

Winstanley held up one and asked why it did not shatter when hit by the mighty Megson. Poor Megson was not smirking now and continued shaking his head!

Robin was ready again. He said "I have been told by our blacksmiths that iron is different when it cools by itself then when it is quenched suddenly in water," without any prompting. "They say the iron is tempered and is more malleable after it is quenched. Perhaps it is good-tempered then!"

We all laughed at the quip. I had heard this, too, from the Barkers who said that there were different sorts of iron as well depending on where it had been prepared from the iron ore. I did not say that for Winstanley was now relating that glass also acted differently according to the way it was cooled. He told us that Mr Hooke, who was a member of the early Royal Society, had suggested it was because the outer shell of the drop had cooled much faster than the interior. It was known that glass, unlike other substances, expanded on cooling but the interior could not escape the outer skin when it cooled suddenly. The outside was tempered and very strong so resisted the blows of the hammer but when the tail was pinched away the inside could then expand and explode in a myriad of fragments.

We all agreed it was a most spectacular demonstration. Of course, Megson then asked if it had any uses. He said Winstanley was adept in showing us strange things but could not say if they had any utility, such as that electric current we had experienced last term.

It was then that Bayes described what he had seen in the other London College only the week or so before. His father had taken him to a demonstration of an electric telegraph at King's College which Professor Wheatstone had invented and was now improved. Needles were made to move by passing an electric current and these could be used to spell out words from the letters displayed above them. He said he knew there was use of an electric telegraph from the Paddington terminus of the railway to other stations on the line which proceeded from there.

Megson was not impressed. "Why is there need for such things? We have pens and ink and messengers and that is quite fast enough for me."

There was quite an argument then and I think most of us wondered if the telegraph had any real utility. Bayes said it would be very important for the new railways because the trains had to be controlled on the lines especially to prevent accidents. Messages could be transmitted speedily between the halts and stations on the lines.

There was another argument brewing on whether railways were a good thing and would they ruin the countryside especially for hunting? How could one hunt if there was a railway line beyond a hedge with trains which might suddenly appear and injure the horses? No one asked again if there was a use for the strange glass and I think Mr Ridley was thankful when his grandfather clock struck five and the tea trolley appeared.

Aubrey Bayes and Robin were deep in conversation as they ate and drank and I and Theo talked to other members of the group. Baring was especially complimentary about the way we young ones had entered into the discussions. He then pointed to Bayes.

"Take it from me," he said to Theo and me, "There is a deal more which will come out of those Colleges in London. My father is taking great interest in some scheme for this telegraph. I didn't like to make it known but Professor Wheatstone has even more devices and ideas and messages will soon be travelling faster and further than a messenger can ride." He would not be drawn further but it was something to discuss with Aubrey.

So, the first full week of school ended. Not quite perhaps, for on Saturday when the football games were being played Robin and I rode out with several others including Freddy Neville and 'Horsey' Palfrey but also with Henry Radcliffe who had decided he did not want to be muddied again. I could see he wanted to be friends with both Robin and me and as I looked fondly on my Robin I knew it would only be a straightforward friendship with that other beguiling lad.

To be continued:

P.S. Please consider making a donation to Nifty to keep the site running. Details of how to make a payment are on the Nifty Home Page. Many thanks and happy reading. Joel.