Horae subsecivae / by Dr. John Brown, with an introduction by Austin Dobson.

  • John Brown
Date:
[1907]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Horae subsecivae / by Dr. John Brown, with an introduction by Austin Dobson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    45/386 page 21
    To the astonishment of the school, and to the big rebel’s too, he obeyed and was punished on the instant, and to the full; out went the hand, down came the ‘ taws, and bit like fire. From that moment he ruled them by his eye, the taws vanished. There was an incident at this time of his life which I should perhaps not tell, and yet I don’t know why I shouldn’t, it so perfectly illustrates his character in many ways. He had come home during the vacation of his school to Langrig, and was about to go back ; he had been renewing his intercourse with his old teacher and friend whom you mention, from whom he used to say he learned to like Shakspere, and who seems to have been a man of genuine literary tastes. He went down to bid him good-bye, and doubtless they got on their old book loves, and would be spouting their pet pieces. The old dominie said, ‘ John, my man, if you are walking into Edinburgh, I’ll convoy you a bit.’ ‘ John ’ was too happy, so next morning they set off, keeping up a constant fire of quotation and eager talk. They got past Mid-Calder to near East, when my father insisted on his friend returning, and also on going back a bit with him ; on looking at the old man, he thought he was tired, so on reaching the well-knowiLJ Kippen’s Inn,’ he stopped and insisted on giving him some re- freshment. Instead of ordering bread and cheese and a bottle of ale, he, doubtless full of Shakspere, and great upon sack and canary, ordered a bottle of wine ! Of this, you may be sure, the dominie, as he most needed it, had the greater share, and doubtless it warmed the cockles of his old heart. ‘ John ’ making him finish the bottle, and drink the health of ‘ Gentle Will,’ saw him off, and went in to pay the reckoning. What did he know of the price of wine ! It took exactly every penny he had ; I doubt not, most boys, knowing that the landlord knew them, would have either paid a part, or asked him to score it up. This was not his way ; he was too proud and shy and honest for such an expedient. By this time, what with discussing Shakspere, and witnessing his master’s leisurely emptying of that bottle.
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