An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

82 AUTOBIOGRAPHY my own account, and soon after went to Gruns to see my wife who had been nursing there. On 25th August with G.B. to Richmond, and again by Guildford to Selborne. On the Monday G.B. had a wire that his aunt was dead, so went to Alton, and then raced Grun back to Selborne and to the "New Inn," and on by Alice Holt to Farnham and Guildford. Next day I went in a dog cart to see Sutton Place, and rode home by Chertsey, lunching at the "Clarendon," Teddington. I began my autumn triking cruise by going to Lynn by rail with G. Bennett, and worked round by Burnham and Holt, got caught in a vile storm at Kelling, and on to Cromer, where we stayed at the '' Belle Vue," and so on to Norwich. Two miles from home G.B.'s saddle slipped and he had a nasty fall, cutting his stomach with a saddle pin. Stayed at the " Maid's Head," and on the Saturday took a wagonette with stores to Coldham Hall. On the Sunday we had a fine sail to Beccles. Started for Bungay, but the lock was blocked. At Oulton, P.B.F. joined, but being bad and sick in the night he left next day. We came back by the "Cut" and Acle, took rail to meet my wife, then railed .to W roxham. Up the river to Oxnead, where we got nearly sunk in Buxton lock, and to Aylsham (Stapleton's daughter was buried that day). On Tuesday, the Littles joined, and we sailed up to Ludham Bridge, Stalham and Acle, when G.E.R. and D.M.R. left. During this journey I saw to my disgust that the fine hedge at Potter Heigham had been cruelly cut down, I presume by the same vandals who have twice altered the dialect lines on the sign of the " Falgate" from "hang high" to "hangs high." We then worked round by Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Cantley, and Norwich. E. Farrer was with us some days on Church Heraldry.* It was getting cold on 28th September, so came home on Saturday, 29th. On 7th October, I tried the "Bantam'' at intervals round Elstree, &c., but ultimately came off it and cut my left knee badly. On Saturday, 13th, my wife, and W.H.E. and his wife, went to Alton, and back on Monday, having com– pleted the purchase of Selborne. On the 28th October I arranged with Dr. (now Sir) Robertson Nicoll to write literary anecdotes of Norfolk for *He got bis feet wet and wore my wife's shoes as slippers, for he had the smallest feet I ever saw in a man.