An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 127 Norwich Enrolled Deeds into type, and was checking the proof. At Whitsun R.H. and D.M.R. were down again for a few days at Lammas, and Howlett was with me. In June I cycled over with him to see Stratton and Marsham Churches, but he was too tired to go on to Cawston, and left. On the 9th June I had a visit from one of the meanest men I ever came across, but it avails not to go into details, however instructive they would be. On the 1 rth June I had the chance of iuspectiug a very large mass of little deeds showing the lJuilding up by amalgamation of the Westwick estate and seeing the grand gardens there, I think for the first time. Next day, r 2th June, having been trusted with several great pieces of the Stapleton brasses from Ingham, long since stolen away, I had the pleasure of triking over and restoring them to the Church on the distinct understanding they should at once be rivetted into positiou again, a promise which I understand was never kept, and they are once more loose in the Church chest ready for the next brass-thief to remove. The next week, 15th June, I took Betty up to town and paid a long promised (and somewhat dreaded) visit to Gruner, the Champion of the Quatuor Corouati. I had made elaborate arrangements for a late reception that night at my son's honse at Hampstead, but they were unnecessary, for I found him a boiled owl when I got there, dolefully singing the praises of one who he admiringly called "an admirable young Scotchman," who had been staying with him for some days, and had reduced him to a limp rag, and I escaped by 7 p.111. surprised and greatly relieved. The next day I rode to Selborne again and had a close shave for my life, for a heavy rain storm setting in on the Kingston Road going down into Norbiton, the rain rendered my brakes useless, and my trike and its heavy bag fairly ran away with me. Luckily I had sense to jump off at high speed, aud went on to Cobham. The next day was dull but goo'l travelling, and I went through Guildford and over the Hog's Back, so rode to Selborne very well. But on the next day I felt the effects of my wetting, for I had a bad cold and kidney pain which I relieved externally by applying hot flannel, and internally by copious bot gin, eventually