Some of our earliest recollections are of the long and interesting walks we took with our father and mother.  He never failed to point out anything of interest and tell us what he knew about it, and would answer our numerous questions if possible, or put us off with some joking reference to Boojums or Jabberwocks.  We looked upon him as an infallible source of information, not only in our childhood, but to a large extent all his life.  When exploring the country he scorned “trespass boards.”  He read them “Trespassers will be persecuted,” and then ignored them, much to our childish trepidation.  If he was met by indignant gamekeepers or owners, they were often too much awed by his dignified and commanding appearance to offer any objection to his going where he wished.  He was fond of calling our attention to insects and to other objects of natural history, and giving us interesting lessons about them.  He delighted in natural scenery, especially distant views, and our walks and excursions were generally taken with some object, such as finding a bee-orchis or a rare plant, or exploring a new part of the country, or finding a waterfall.

In 1876 we went to live at Dorking, but stayed there only a year or two.  An instance of his love of mystifying us children may be given.  It must have been shortly after our arrival at Dorking that one day, having been out to explore the neighbourhood, he returned about tea-time and said, “Where do you think I have been?  To Glory!” Of course we were very properly excited, and plied him with questions, but we got nothing more out of him then.  Later on we were taken to see the wonderful place called “Glory Wood”; and it had surely gained in glory by such preparation.

Sometimes it would happen that a scene or object would recall an incident in his tropical wanderings and he would tell us of the sights he had seen.  At the time he was greatly interested in botany, in which he was encouraged by our mother, who was an ardent lover of flowers; and to the end of his life he exhibited almost boyish delight when he discovered a rare plant.  Many walks and excursions were taken for the purpose of seeing some uncommon plant growing in its natural habitat.  When he had found the object of his search we were all called to see it.  During his walks and holidays he made constant use of the one-inch Ordnance Maps, which he obtained for each district he visited, planning out our excursions on the map before starting.  He had a gift for finding the most beautiful walks by means of it.

In 1878 we moved to Croydon, where we lived about four years.  It was at this time that he hoped to get the post of Superintendent of Epping Forest.  We still remember all the delights we children were promised if we went to live there.  We had a day’s excursion to see the Forest, he with his map finding out the roads and stopping every now and then to admire a fresh view or to explain what he would do if the opportunity were given him.  It was a very hot