raised on a rostrum, and in the middle, in front of what he referred to, in his aristocratic London accent, as ’a beggarly array of rewards,’ the aged and celebrated Sir Thomas Wilbraham Wilbraham, ex-M.P., last respectable member of his ancient line.  And Sir Thomas gave the box of instruments to Cyril, and shook hands with him.  And everybody was very well dressed.  Samuel, who had never attended anything but a National School, recalled the simple rigours of his own boyhood, and swelled.  For certainly, of all the parents present, he was among the richest.  When, in the informal promiscuities which followed the prize distribution, Cyril joined his father and mother, sheepishly, they duly did their best to make light of his achievements, and failed.  The walls of the hall were covered with specimens of the pupils’ skill, and the headmaster was observed to direct the attention of the mighty to a map done by Cyril.  Of course it was a map of Ireland, Ireland being the map chosen by every map-drawing schoolboy who is free to choose.  For a third-form boy it was considered a masterpiece.  In the shading of mountains Cyril was already a prodigy.  Never, it was said, had the Macgillycuddy Reeks been indicated by a member of that school with a more amazing subtle refinement than by the young Povey.  From a proper pride in themselves, from a proper fear lest they should be secretly accused of ostentation by other parents, Samuel and Constance did not go near that map.  For the rest, they had lived with it for weeks, and Samuel (who, after all, was determined not to be dirt under his son’s feet) had scratched a blot from it with a completeness that defied inquisitive examination.

The fame of this map, added to the box of compasses and Cyril’s own desire, pointed to an artistic career.  Cyril had always drawn and daubed, and the drawing-master of the Endowed School, who was also headmaster of the Art School, had suggested that the youth should attend the Art School one night a week.  Samuel, however, would not listen to the idea; Cyril was too young.  It is true that Cyril was too young, but Samuel’s real objection was to Cyril’s going out alone in the evening.  On that he was adamant.

The Governors had recently made the discovery that a sports department was necessary to a good school, and had rented a field for cricket, football, and rounders up at Bleakridge, an innovation which demonstrated that the town was moving with the rapid times.  In June this field was open after school hours till eight p.m. as well as on Saturdays.  The Squire learnt that Cyril had a talent for cricket, and Cyril wished to practise in the evenings, and was quite ready to bind himself with Bible oaths to rise at no matter what hour in the morning for the purpose of home lessons.  He scarcely expected his father to say ‘Yes’ as his father never did say ‘Yes,’ but he was obliged to ask.  Samuel nonplussed him by replying that on fine evenings, when he could spare time from the shop, he would go