William George Ward And the Oxford Movement

used. Each boy (except the six senior prefects, who shared a ' study' with as many desks between them, and some of the youngest who sat at the tables) had a cupboard containing his books, etc., set up against the wall of the dining-hall, with a desk for ink, etc., and a seat in front upon a fixed form, which was carried all round the hall. During certain hours every boy had to sit there in his proper place, preparing (or supposed to prepare) his lessons; order being kept by a master, when present, or by a prefect in the absence of any master. All the 130 had their meals in this hall, at tables set longitudinally for that purpose; and, during and after breakfast (I think also during and after tea and supper) the juniors in a certain course and order were, or were supposed to be, in readiness, when called to do such services as the prefects might require of them. " Most of the prefects when Ward became senior prefect were new to that office; and neither Ward nor any other had held it long. The six seniors who shared the study between them (and on whom the main weight of the trouble which followed fell) were Ward, Tindal (son of the Solicitor-General, afterwards Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas), and Gaselee (son of a judge and afterwards a double first-class man at Oxford), Lowe (now Lord Sherbrooke), Abraham (also distinguished at Oxford), and myself. We were, taken altogether, below the average age and strength usual at the top of the school; we were of little accou... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.