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unaccountable man, instead of being touched, again swiped. The story would be unbelievable were it not vouched for by James's aunt, who had seen the marks on him. For his behaviour in this matter she increased his sock money at Little Brown's. It was pleasant to learn from another letter that James had not asked her to do this for his own stomach's sake, but to give treats to "skinnier youths who have not the luck to possess an aunt like mine." I advertised for other letters from James, promising to return them, but got no response. He seems never to have had a friend. James's last visit to his aunt occurred while he held a clerk-ship in the city, and it happened to be the famous fortnight when there were so many robberies in the village. Among those who suffered losses were Miss xxx and James himself. "I think I never admired him more," she told me, "than on that occasion, he was so brave and helpful." The villagers, it seems, had decided to appeal to Scotland Yard, but James dissuaded them, undertaking in the riskiest way to patrol the dark street alone, with an iron bar. He very nearly caught the evil-doers but not quite, and they continued to be active until he left, when the misdeeds ceased.
I am indebted to Mr. B. T. G Jasper for an account of the last visit paid by Jas. Hook to his old school. Mr. Jasper, as I scarcely need to inform anyone who is familiar with the Eton of today, is one of those much respected old Es whom love for Eton has gently paralysed. In their last year at the school (or even earlier) they resolve to return as ushers, and the Eton boys, and the other boys promise in note-books to send
