f these
he knew nothing. On the other hand, with those countries which have come
less quickly under the hand of civilisation, such as New Guinea or West
Africa, he was well acquainted. He had followed the history of this last
down to fairly modern times, knew the story of every settlement from
Bathurst to the Bight and to Benguela, with their principal exports; and
could talk interestedly with any dweller on 'the Coast.'

He is still comparatively a young man. If ever he sets out to see the
world for himself, his pleasures will far exceed those of the ordinary
tourist. Wherever he may go, he will need no guide-book to instruct him,
in history at least. And he will visit out-of-the-way spots unnoticed by
these authorities, but dear to him by reason of their mention in the
pages of his fireside Mentors, their association with some thrilling
though unimportant event of which he has read. Harbours, villages,
buildings, will be familiar to him through some old print or coloured
engraving; and he will eagerly compare the actual appearance with the
mental picture he has borne for so long. Disappointment sometimes there
will be, but a delightful anticipation always.

I hope, however, that I shall never be his travelling companion!

And here I cannot forbear to mention one other book-collecting
acquaintance. A bosom friend of the genealogist, he was at one time a
fellow-worker, and they would sit closeted for hours debating the
parentage of Henry ap John. But he lacked that determination which
prevented his friend from being constantly side-tracked, and the minutiae
of history had a fatal attraction for him. As to whether Hugo de
Beauchamp of _Com. Wigorn._ (which was their pleasant way of saying that
he lived in Worcestershire) held his manor by serjeanty of the
_condimentum_ was of small moment to him compared with the price which
King Edward paid him for a couple of goshawks or a greyhound; and he
wondered of what sort was the tun of wine which he had from that
sovereign as a Christmas present. And so his book-buying became more and
more confined, for it was restricted now to those curious and uncommon
works which treat of the byways of history; such as the Accounts of the
Wardrobe and Hanaper, the reports of the lords marchers of the realm,
books on feudal customs and offices, and the like.

During the great war our friend busied himself with His Majesty's
ordnance. Hitherto he had always associated the term with cast-iro