He went to a leading public school, where he was in no way
distinguished either in work or athletics. I gathered, when I first
knew him, that he had been regarded as a clever, quiet, good-
natured, simple-minded boy, with a considerable charm of manner,
but decidedly retiring. He was not expected to distinguish himself
in any way, and he did not seem to have any particular ambitions. I
went up to Cambridge at the same time as he, and we formed a very
close friendship. We had kindred tastes, and we did not concern
ourselves very much with the social life of the place. We read,
walked, talked, played games, idled, and amused ourselves together.
I was more attached to him, I think, than he was to me; indeed, I
do not think that he cared at that time to form particularly close
ties. He was frank, engaging, humorous, and observant; but I do not
think that he depended very much upon any one; he rather tended to
live an interior life of his own, of poetical and fanciful
reflection. I think he tended to be pensive rather than high-
spirited--at least, I do not often remember any particular
ebullition of youthful enthusiasm. He liked congenial company, but
he was always ready to be alone.
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