Chapter 2

SOON after I was seven years old, I went to what was then,and is still, one of the most favoured of preparatory schools- Temple Grove¹ - at East Sheen, then kept by Dr. Pinkney. Iwas taken thither² from Holkham by a great friend of myfather's, General Sir Ronald Ferguson, whose statue nowadorns one of the niches³ in the facade⁴ of Wellington College.

　　The school contained about 120 boys; but I cannot name anyone of the lot who afterwards achieved distinction. Therewere three Macaulays there, nephews of the historian - Aulay,Kenneth, and Hector. But I have lost sight of all.

　　Temple Grove was a typical private school of that period.

　　The type is familiar to everyone in its photograph asDotheboys Hall. The progress of the last century in manydirections is great indeed; but in few is it greater than inthe comfort and the cleanliness of our modern schools. Theluxury enjoyed by the present boy is a constant source ofastonishment to us grandfathers. We were half starved, wewere exceedingly dirty, we were systematically⁵ bullied⁶, andwe were flogged and caned⁷ as though the master's pleasure wasin inverse⁸ ratio to ours. The inscription⁹ on the thresholdshould have been 'Cave canem.'

　　We began our day as at Dotheboys Hall with two largespoonfuls of sulphur and treacle¹⁰. After an hour's lessons webreakfasted on one bowl of milk - 'Skyblue' we called it -and one hunch¹¹ of buttered bread, unbuttered at discretion¹².

　　Our dinner began with pudding - generally rice - to save thebutcher's bill. Then mutton - which was quite capable oftaking care of itself. Our only other meal was a basin of'Skyblue' and bread as before.

　　As to cleanliness, I never had a bath, never bathed (at theschool) during the two years I was there. On Saturdaynights, before bed, our feet were washed by the housemaids,in tubs round which half a dozen of us sat at a time. Woe¹³ tothe last comers! for the water was never changed. How wesurvived the food, or rather the want of it, is a marvel¹⁴.

　　Fortunately for me, I used to discover, when I got into bed,a thickly buttered crust under my pillow. I believed, Inever quite made sure, (for the act was not admissible), thatmy good fairy was a fiery-haired lassie (we called her'Carrots,' though I had my doubts as to this being herChristian name) who hailed from Norfolk. I see her now: herjolly, round, shining face, her extensive mouth, her ampleperson. I recall, with more pleasure than I then endured,the cordial hugs she surreptitiously bestowed¹⁵ upon me when wemet by accident in the passages. Kind, affectionate'Carrots'! Thy heart was as bounteous¹⁶ as thy bosom¹⁷. May thetenderness of both have met with their earthly deserts; andmayest thou have shared to the full the pleasures thou wastever ready to impart!

　　There were no railways in those times. It amuses me to seepeople nowadays travelling by coach, for pleasure. How manylives must have been shortened by long winter journeys inthose horrible coaches. The inside passengers were hardlybetter off than the outside. The corpulent and heavyoccupied the scanty¹⁸ space allotted¹⁹ to the weak and small -crushed them, slept on them, snored over them, andmonopolised the straw which was supposed to keep their feetwarm.

　　A pachydermatous old lady would insist upon an open window.

　　A wheezy consumptive invalid²⁰ would insist on a closed one.

　　Everybody's legs were in their own, and in every otherbody's, way. So that when the distance was great and timeprecious, people avoided coaching, and remained where theywere.

　　For this reason, if a short holiday was given - less than aweek say - Norfolk was too far off; and I was not permittedto spend it at Holkham. I generally went to Charles Fox's atAddison Road, or to Holland House. Lord Holland was a greatfriend of my father's; but, if Creevey is to be trusted -which, as a rule, my recollection of him would permit me todoubt, though perhaps not in this instance - Lord Holland didnot go to Holkham because of my father's dislike to LadyHolland.

　　I speak here of my introduction to Holland House, foralthough Lady Holland was then in the zenith of herascendency, (it was she who was the Cabinet Minister, not hertoo amiable²¹ husband,) although Holland House was then theresort of all the potentates²² of Whig statecraft, and Whigliterature, and Whig wit, in the persons of Lord Grey,Brougham, Jeffrey, Macaulay, Sydney Smith, and others, it wasnot till eight or ten years later that I knew, when I metthem there, who and what her Ladyship's brilliant satelliteswere. I shall not return to Lady Holland, so I will say aparting word of her forthwith.

　　The woman who corresponded with Buonaparte, and consoled theprisoner of St. Helena with black currant jam, was noordinary personage. Most people, I fancy, were afraid ofher. Her stature²³, her voice, her beard, were obtrusive²⁴ marksof her masculine attributes. It is questionable²⁵ whether heramity or her enmity was most to be dreaded²⁶. She liked thosebest whom she could most easily tyrannise over. Those in theother category might possibly keep aloof²⁷. For my part Ifeared her patronage²⁸. I remember when I was about seventeen- a self-conscious hobbledehoy - Mr. Ellice took me to one ofher large receptions. She received her guests from a sort ofelevated dais. When I came up - very shy - to make mysalute, she asked me how old I was. 'Seventeen,' was theanswer. 'That means next birthday,' she grunted²⁹. 'Come andgive me a kiss, my dear.' I, a man! - a man whose voice was(sometimes) as gruff as hers! - a man who was beginning toshave for a moustache! Oh! the indignity³⁰ of it!

　　But it was not Lady Holland, or her court, that concerned mein my school days, it was Holland Park, or the extensivegrounds about Charles Fox's house (there were no other housesat Addison Road then), that I loved to roam in. It was thebirds'-nesting; it was the golden carp I used to fish for onthe sly with a pin; the shying at the swans, the hunt forcockchafers, the freedom of mischief³¹ generally, and theexcellent food - which I was so much in need of - that madethe holiday delightful³².

　　Some years later, when dining at Holland House, I happened tosit near the hostess. It was a large dinner party. LordHolland, in his bath-chair (he nearly always had the gout),sat at the far end of the table a long way off. But my ladykept an eye on him, for she had caught him drinkingchampagne. She beckoned³³ to the groom³⁴ of the chambers³⁵, whostood behind her; and in a gruff and angry voice shouted:

　　'Go to my Lord. Take away his wine, and tell him if hedrinks any more you have my orders to wheel him into the nextroom.' If this was a joke it was certainly a practical one.

　　And yet affection was behind it. There's a tender place inevery heart.

　　Like all despots, she was subject to fits of cowardice³⁶ -especially, it was said, with regard to a future state, whichshe professed³⁷ to disbelieve in. Mr. Ellice told me thatonce, in some country house, while a fearful storm wasraging, and the claps of thunder made the windows rattle,Lady Holland was so terrified that she changed dresses withher maid, and hid herself in the cellar. Whether the storybe a calumny³⁸ or not, it is at least characteristic.

　　After all, it was mainly due to her that Holland House becamethe focus of all that was brilliant in Europe. In thememoirs of her father - Sydney Smith - Mrs. Austin writes:

　　'The world has rarely seen, and will rarely, if ever, seeagain all that was to be found within the walls of HollandHouse. Genius and merit, in whatever rank of life, became apassport there; and all that was choicest and rarest inEurope seemed attracted to that spot as their natural soil.'

　　Did we learn much at Temple Grove? Let others answer forthemselves. Acquaintance with the classics was the staple³⁹ ofa liberal education in those times. Temple Grove was theATRIUM to Eton, and gerund-grinding was its RAISON D'ETRE.

　　Before I was nine years old I daresay I could repeat -parrot, that is - several hundreds of lines of the AEneid.

　　This, and some elementary arithmetic, geography, and drawing,which last I took to kindly⁴⁰, were dearly paid for by manytears, and by temporarily impaired⁴¹ health. It was due to mypallid cheeks that I was removed. It was due to thefollowing six months - summer months - of a happy life thatmy health was completely restored.

1 grove   

n.林子，小树林，园林

参考例句：

• On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
• The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

2 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

3 niches   

壁龛( niche的名词复数 )； 合适的位置[工作等]； （产品的）商机； 生态位（一个生物所占据的生境的最小单位）

参考例句：

• Some larvae extend the galleries to form niches. 许多幼虫将坑道延伸扩大成壁龛。
• In his view differences in adaptation are insufficient to create niches commensurate in number and kind. 按照他的观点，适应的差异不足以在数量上和种类上形成同量的小生境。

4 facade   

n.(建筑物的)正面，临街正面；外表

参考例句：

• The entrance facade consists of a large full height glass door.入口正面有一大型全高度玻璃门。
• If you look carefully,you can see through Bob's facade.如果你仔细观察，你就能看穿鲍勃的外表。

5 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。

6 bullied   

adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• My son is being bullied at school. 我儿子在学校里受欺负。
• The boy bullied the small girl into giving him all her money. 那男孩威逼那个小女孩把所有的钱都给他。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 caned   

vt.用苔杖打（cane的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The gaoler caned the man. 狱卒用藤条鞭打这个人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have caned my son when necessary. 必要时，我就用藤条打儿子一顿。 来自辞典例句

8 inverse   

adj.相反的，倒转的，反转的；n.相反之物；v.倒转

参考例句：

• Evil is the inverse of good.恶是善的反面。
• When the direct approach failed he tried the inverse.当直接方法失败时，他尝试相反的做法。

9 inscription   

n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文

参考例句：

• The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损，无法辨认了。
• He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。

10 treacle   

n.糖蜜

参考例句：

• Blend a little milk with two tablespoons of treacle.将少许牛奶和两大汤匙糖浆混合。
• The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweet.啜饮蜜糖的苍蝇在甜蜜中丧生。

11 hunch   

n.预感，直觉

参考例句：

• I have a hunch that he didn't really want to go.我有这么一种感觉，他并不真正想去。
• I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together.我有预感和苏珊共事会很融洽。

12 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

13 woe   

n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌

参考例句：

• Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
• A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸，自认福是福。

14 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

15 bestowed   

赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
• He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。

16 bounteous   

adj.丰富的

参考例句：

• Because of the spring rains,the farmers had a bounteous crop.因为下了春雨，农夫获得了丰收。
• He has a bounteous imagination.他有丰富的想象力。

17 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

18 scanty   

adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的

参考例句：

• There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
• The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

19 allotted   

分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
• Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。

20 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

21 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

22 potentates   

n.君主，统治者( potentate的名词复数 )；有权势的人

参考例句：

• Among high-fashion potentates, Arnault has taken an early lead on the Internet. 在高级时装大亨中，阿诺尔特在互联网方面同样走在了前面。 来自互联网

23 stature   

n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材

参考例句：

• He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
• The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。

24 obtrusive   

adj.显眼的；冒失的

参考例句：

• These heaters are less obtrusive and are easy to store away in the summer.这些加热器没那么碍眼，夏天收起来也很方便。
• The factory is an obtrusive eyesore.这工厂很刺眼。

25 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。

26 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

27 aloof   

adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的

参考例句：

• Never stand aloof from the masses.千万不可脱离群众。
• On the evening the girl kept herself timidly aloof from the crowd.这小女孩在晚会上一直胆怯地远离人群。

28 patronage   

n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场

参考例句：

• Though it was not yet noon,there was considerable patronage.虽然时间未到中午，店中已有许多顾客惠顾。
• I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this.很抱歉，我的赞助只能到此为止。

29 grunted   

（猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说

参考例句：

• She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声，继续看书，不屑抬起头来看一眼。
• She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。

30 indignity   

n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑

参考例句：

• For more than a year we have suffered the indignity.在一年多的时间里,我们丢尽了丑。
• She was subjected to indignity and humiliation.她受到侮辱和羞辱。

31 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

32 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

33 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

34 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

35 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

36 cowardice   

n.胆小，怯懦

参考例句：

• His cowardice reflects on his character.他的胆怯对他的性格带来不良影响。
• His refusal to help simply pinpointed his cowardice.他拒绝帮助正显示他的胆小。

37 professed   

公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的

参考例句：

• These, at least, were their professed reasons for pulling out of the deal. 至少这些是他们自称退出这宗交易的理由。
• Her manner professed a gaiety that she did not feel. 她的神态显出一种她并未实际感受到的快乐。

38 calumny   

n.诽谤，污蔑，中伤

参考例句：

• Calumny is answered best with silence.沉默可以止谤。
• Calumny require no proof.诽谤无需证据。

39 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

40 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

41 impaired   

adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》