toe, which put him into dreadful pain for some time.  Then came the Queen’s carriage, and I thought college would have tumbled down with the row.  The cheering was really tremendous.  The whole 550 fellows all at once roared away.  The Queen and Consort nodding and bowing, smiling, &c.  Then F—–­ and I made a rush to get up behind the Queen’s carriage, but a dragoon with his horse almost knocked us over.  So we ran by the side as well as we could, but the crowd was so immensely thick, we could not get on as quick as the Queen.  We rushed along, knocking clean over all the clods we could, and rushing against the rest, and finally F—–­ and myself were the only Eton fellows that got into the quadrangle.  As we got there, the Queen’s carriage was going away.  You may fancy that we were rather hot, running the whole way up to the Castle, besides the exertion of knocking over the clods and knocking at doors as we passed; but I was so happy.’

Such is bliss at twelve years old!

The first half-year of 1839 had brought Patteson into the Remove, that large division of the school intermediate between the fourth and fifth forms.  The work was harder, and his diligence somewhat relaxed.  In fact, the Coley of this period and of a good while later had more heart for play than work.  Cricket, bathing, and boating were his delight; and though his school-work was conscientiously accomplished, it did not interest him; and when he imagined himself to have been working hard and well, it was a thunderbolt to him to find, at the end of the half-year, that a great deal more had been expected of him by his tutor.  It shows how candid and sweet his nature was, that, just as when he was a little fellow at Ottery, his penitent letter should contain the rebuke he had received, without resentment against anyone but himself:—­

’Aunt has just called me down into the drawing-room and shown me my character.  I am stupefied at it; it is so shocking just when I most wanted a good one on account of mamma’s health.  I am ashamed to say that I can offer not the slightest excuse; my conduct on this occasion has been very bad.  I expect a severe reproof from you, and pray do not send me any money, nor grant me the slightest [favour?].  Whilst ....., who has very little ability (uncle says), is, by plodding on, getting credit, I, who (my tutor says) have abilities, am wickedly neglecting and offending both my heavenly and earthly Father by my bad use of them.  Aunt called me into the drawing-room, and very kindly showed me the excessive foolishness of my conduct; but from this very moment I am determined that I will not lose a moment, and we will see what the next three weeks will produce.’

Poor little fellow! his language is so strong that it is almost a surprise to find that he was reproaching himself for no more heinous fault than not having worked up to the full extent of his powers!  He kept his promise of diligence, and never again incurred reproof, but was sent up for good again in November.  His career through the school was above the average, though not attaining to what was expected from his capabilities; but the development of his nature was slow, and therefore perhaps ultimately the more complete, and as yet study for its own sake did not interest him; indeed, his mind was singularly devoid of pleasure in classical subjects, though so alert in other directions.