e most delightful of boys;
not clever or studious, but full of fun and charm." This governess
must have been a remarkable woman, for she is, I believe, the only
human being who ever pronounced Scott Holland "not clever." It
is something to be the sole upholder of an opinion, even a wrong
one, against a unanimous world. By this time George Holland had
established himself at Wellesbourne Hall, near Warwick, and there
his son Scott was brought up in the usual habits of a country home
where hunting and shooting are predominant interests. From the
Swiss lady's control he passed to a private school at Allesley,
near Coventry, and in January, 1860, he went to Eton. There he
boarded at the house of Mrs. Gulliver,[*] and was a pupil of William
Johnson (afterwards Cory), a brilliant and eccentric scholar, whose
power of eliciting and stimulating a boy's intellect has never
been surpassed.

[Footnote *: Of Mrs. Gulliver and her sister, H. S. H. writes:
"They allowed football in top passage twice a week, which still
seems to be the zenith of all joy."]

From this point onwards, Scott Holland's history--the formation of
his character, the development of his intellect, the place which
he attained in the regard of his friends--can be easily and exactly
traced; for the impression which he made upon his contemporaries has
not been effaced, or even dimmed, by the lapse of seven-and-forty
years.

"My recollection of him at Eton," writes one of his friends, "is
that of a boy most popular and high-spirited, strong, and full
of life; but not eminent at games." Another writes: "He was very
popular with a certain set, but not exactly eminent." He was not
a member of "Pop," the famous Debating Society of Eton, but his
genius found its outlet in other spheres. "He once astonished us
all by an excellent performance in some private theatricals in
his house." For the rest, he rowed, steered the _Victory_ twice,
played cricket for his House, and fives and football, and was a
first-rate swimmer.

With regard to more important matters, it must suffice to say that
then, as always, his moral standard was the highest, and that no evil
thing dared manifest itself in his presence. He had been trained,
by an admirable mother, in the best traditions of the Tractarian
school, and he was worthy of his training. Among his intimate friends
were Dalmeny, afterwards Lord Rosebery; Henry Northcote, now Lord
Northcote; Freddy Wood, afterwards Meynell; Alberic