purpose, however, always doers rather than dreamers.  Among them I remember one cousin who was probably abnormal, although he died when I was too young to notice much.  Again, they were all rather reserved people, but more genial with strangers, more socially inclined, and with less self-control.

“I was an only child and a spoilt one.  I was always quick at school, fond of learning, and finding my lessons no trouble.  Serious study I disliked.  But for school purposes I did not find it necessary, and had no difficulty in carrying all before me.  I was never fond of games, although very fond of being out of doors and of walking.  Few of my relatives have been at all keen on sport.  I made no close friendships at school and was never very popular with my schoolfellows, who, however, tolerated my odd ways better than might have been expected.  I was easily brought to appreciate good literature, but I never had much power of expression or of strenuous thought.  I was extremely susceptible and impressible, moved by beauty of any kind, but never at all ambitious or in any way creative.  I was easily stimulated to work, and then loved to work; but, unless the stimulus were maintained the natural indolence of my disposition asserted itself, and I wasted my powers in dreams and trifles.  My memory was very quick and retentive, in the main, but curiously capricious.  I always lacked initiative and decision.  At college my successes were continued.  I gained medals and prizes, passed my examinations easily, and graduated ‘with first-class honors.’  In my professional lifework I have been successful rather beyond the average.  I love it with all my heart.

“I cannot speak with any confidence about the first stirrings of my sexual instincts, but I think I can assert that they have at no time led me to any desire for the opposite sex.  It is true that my earliest recollection of the kind is concerned with intimacies with a girl play-fellow, but as we had at the time reached only the mature age of 7 (at the most) I fancy that our mutual exhibitions—­for there was nothing more—­simply satisfied our natural curiosity.  Certainly these memories are, in my mind, in no way set apart from the recollections of other kinds of play.  Next to that I remember the usual schoolboy talk about things hidden and forbidden, but up till I was 12 or so this was simply dirty talk, concerned more with renal and intestinal functions than with any sexual feelings or understanding.  One boy was known to us all (and of my not inconsiderable circle of early friends, all grew up to be normal people, who married and had children in due course) for the unusual size of his parts and for the freedom with which he invited and satisfied the curiosity of his friends.  He must have been precocious, for he could not have been more than 12, and I remember to have heard that he had a thick growth of pubic hair.  Even then, although I know that my curiosity—­to put it at that only—­was