boy out for long walks and talked to
him; and the boy's face lit up as I spoke to him of Forbes.

'There is still the recollection in College, handed on from year to
year, of the walk which he took at the end of a Long Vacation from
London to Cambridge with two other men, and how he talked all the way.
It was these conversations, often prolonged for two or three hours,
that impressed those to whom he opened out his thoughts, and who in
turn let him see something of their inner life.

'Forbes always had one or two special friends among the younger men,
whom he seemed to me to look upon as heroes; he always yearned for
sympathy, and he was prepared to give to others all that {39} he had
got. This closer relationship with a few men did not in the least
narrow his interest in the life of the College. He gained, I cannot
believe that it can have been without an effort long and hard, the
power of taking an interest in all sorts of things that form no small
part of the life of the average man. There was nothing strained or
exaggerated in his relations with other men; he was at all times just
himself.

'When he was elected a Fellow, being also Theological Lecturer, he was
anxious to do something to interest and help those who were not
theological students, and he had, first on Sunday mornings after
Chapel, and afterwards in the latter part of the afternoons, Greek
Testament readings for non-theological men, and some terms he took up
some of the problems that present themselves as difficulties to the
thoughtful man. These papers were prepared with great care, and, as I
know, at no small cost of time and energy.

'On Sunday evenings he was "at home" from 9 to 11 to any members of the
College who cared to come. On those occasions it was a curious sight
that met the eyes of any late comer as he opened the door and saw men
in groups sitting on the floor, as chairs were insufficient; as a rule
there was no general subject of conversation--numbers made that
impossible. Most Sunday evenings there was music, but not always, and
it was difficult at the end of the evening to say what could have
brought so many men together. It was a common ground of meeting for
different kinds of men. Forbes Robinson was often at his best on these
occasions; he would join {40} first one group and then another, and
take part in the subject which was being discussed. Generally one or
two would remain when the others left, and deeper problems w