itself, but all together building up a pleasant
picture of the father with his sons.

"_Jan. 15th, 1875._--Frewen contemplates suspending soap-bubbles by
silk threads for experimental purposes. I don't think he will manage
that. Bernard" [the youngest] "volunteered to blow the bubbles with
enthusiasm."

"_Jan. 17th._--I am learning a great deal of electrostatics in
consequence of the perpetual cross-examination to which I am
subjected. I long for you on many grounds, but one is that I may not
be obliged to deliver a running lecture on abstract points of science,
subject to cross-examination by two acute students. Bernie does not
cross-examine much; but if any one gets discomfited, he laughs a sort
of little silver-whistle giggle, which is trying to the unhappy
blunderer."

"_May 9th._--Frewen is deep in parachutes. I beg him not to drop from
the top landing in one of his own making."

"_June 6th, 1876._--Frewen's crank axle is a failure just at
present--but he bears up."

"_June 14th._--The boys enjoy their riding. It gets them whole funds
of adventures. One of their caps falling off is matter for delightful
reminiscences; and when a horse breaks his step, the occurrence
becomes a rear, a shy, or a plunge as they talk it over. Austin, with
quiet confidence, speaks of the greater pleasure in riding a spirited
horse, even if he does give a little trouble. It is the stolid brute
that he dislikes. (N.B.--You can still see six inches between him and
the saddle when his pony trots.) I listen and sympathise and throw out
no hint that their achievements are not really great."

"_June 18th._--Bernard is much impressed by the fact that I can be
useful to Frewen about the steamboat" [which the latter irrepressible
inventor was making]. "He says quite with awe, 'He would not have got
on nearly so well if you had not helped him.'"

"_June 27th._--I do not see what I could do without Austin. He talks
so pleasantly, and is so truly good all through."

"_July 7th._--My chief difficulty with Austin is to get him measured
for a pair of trousers. Hitherto I have failed, but I keep a stout
heart and mean to succeed. Frewen the observer, in describing the
paces of two horses, says, 'Polly takes twenty-seven steps to get
round the school. I couldn't count Sophy, but she takes more than a
hundred.'"

"_Feb. 18th, 1877._--We all feel very lonely without you.