An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

128 AUTOBIOGRAPHY returning to Alton where I slept. I then worked acros: by Basingstoke aud Kingsclare, lunching at a fine old inn full of good Chippendale (the hostess, however, being very well aware of its market value) to Newbury, naturally sleeping at the "Jack of Newbury" there, a pleasant little place. Training on by a very slow, most unpunctual railway to Lambourne, I rode over the down to '' Wayland Smith's cave," noting close by two fields of dodder grass and blue succory (which beat any flower garden), by the the Watling Street and down to the " White Horse," the– blowing stone, out of which I naturally coulcl make no noise issue, and so on by Wantage and Abingdon, through the floods to Oxford, where I slept at my son's rooms. A day at the Bodleian, where I bad a long talk with C. H. Firth, was followed another loug ride to Aylesbury, where I dutifully stopped at the " George" witli its Disraeli's memories, and fouud it a very excellent inn. As on a previous occasion, I was offered as a great favour the very last bottle of the port of whic4 Disraeli had been so fond, but this time I did not fall into the snare. Another day I went on to Hemel Hempstead, where I found my old sister still very weak and thin. On the 25th I went to Watford and Stanmore Hall (where the "Abercorn Arms'' had been vacated by Veal) to Tom Gills once more, and round by Barnet to Hertford (the " Salisbury Arms" bad changed bands and was not so good as it used to be). The next day being intolerably hot I railed to East Dereham. Saturday, 27th, was hotter still, so I went back very slowly to Norwich, barring one dust up with two obstinate young female bikers at Cossey. Visits to Lammas, Backs of Acle, and Coltishall to try to negotiate a lease for Palmer of the dilapidated greenhonse where Miss Maud B. years before had unsuccessfully played with a rat trap and so formed the subject of an unworthy Limerick:~ One more pleasant ride followed to Parson Back's beautiful garden at Carleton Rode, returning by Wymondham and putting in very nearly 36 miles. * Miss Maud was as ruild as a lamb, She doted ou strawberry jaw ; But when by mishap She got caught iu a trap, She p1aiutive1y murmured "0 - ."