ted to
archaeology. He had a rare collection of ancient British, Saxon, and
Norman arms, ornaments, and remains of all sorts; had written several
books on the antiquities of Berkshire and Oxfordshire; was an authority
upon tumuli and stone weapons; and was regarded by his acquaintances as
a man of much learning.

The management of the house and children, and indeed of all affairs
unconnected with his favourite hobby, he left to his wife, who was,
fortunately for him, a clear-headed and sensible woman. Mr. Renshaw was,
in fact, an eminently impractical man, weak and easy in disposition,
averse to exertion of any kind, and without a shadow of the decision of
character that distinguished his son. Except when away upon antiquarian
excursions he passed his time entirely in his own study, engaged upon a
work which, he anticipated, would gain for him a very high position
among the antiquarians of the country, the subject being the exact spot
at which Julius Caesar landed in Britain.

He made his appearance only at meal-times, and then paid but little
attention to what was going on around him, although he was kind to his
children in a gentle indifferent sort of way. For many years he had been
engaged in making up his mind as to the school to which Wilfrid should
be sent; and the boy had at first only been sent to the grammar-school
at the suggestion of his mother as a temporary measure until the
important decision should be arrived at. This had been six years before,
and Mr. Renshaw had postponed his decision until it was too late for
Wilfrid to enter at any of the great public schools.

Knowing from long experience what would be the result were he consulted
as to Marion's education, Mrs. Renshaw had, when the girl was nine years
old, engaged a governess for her without any previous consultation with
her husband, simply telling him of the arrangement after it was
concluded, saying: "I know, Alfred, that you have not yet decided
whether an education at home or at school is best for a girl, and I have
consequently arranged with a young lady to come as governess until you
can come to a conclusion upon the point."

Wilfrid Renshaw was extremely fond of his mother. His father he regarded
with a somewhat contemptuous kind of affection. He did not doubt that he
was a very learned man, but he had small patience with his inability to
make up his mind, his total want of energy, and his habit of leaving
everything for his wife to deci