d the babies and bolted through the door
on to the platform. They thought they were going to be asked to eat raw
meat. Of course, they had never seen a joint in Spain. On their leaving,
we, the younger members of the family, were told to run after them and
catch them if we could. So off we went, and then began such a chase
through the station as I doubt if Charing Cross had ever witnessed before
or has since. The station police and porters, not understanding what was
going on, naturally started chasing and catching us youngsters, much to
the amusement and bewilderment of those looking on. Meanwhile my father
stood at the entrance of the restaurant, sad but resigned, and it was
after some considerable time and after the removal of the offending
joint, that the family party was again gathered together in peace and
quiet, and shortly afterwards proceeded on the last stage of its journey
and arrived safely at the old family home, which stands amidst some of
the most beautiful woods in Scotland. It is very old, but not so old as
the family itself.

My father decided that it would be better for me to get a little
knowledge of the English language before he sent me to school, so that I
might be able to look after myself when there. I was handed over to the
care of the head gamekeeper, Thomas Kennedy. Dear Tom died three years
ago, at a very old age; rather surprising he lived so long, as he had for
years to look after me. To him, from the start, I was "Master Joseph,"
and "Master Joseph" I remained until I embraced the old chap the last
time I saw him before he died. It was from Tom Kennedy that I first
learnt English, mixed with the broad Aberdeen-Scots, which when combined
with my Spanish accent was practically a language of my own.

I wonder if Britons have any idea how difficult it is, especially for one
whose native tongue is of the Latin origin, to get a thorough knowledge
and grasp of their language. To my mind, the English language is not
founded on any particular rules or principles. No matter how words are
spelt, they have got to be pronounced just as the early Britons decided.
There is no particular rule; if you want to spell properly, you pretty
well have to learn to spell each word on its own. This is proved by the
fact that the spelling of their own language correctly is certainly not
one of the proud achievements of their own race. In the good old days
before the War it may be stated without exaggeration that on