CHAPTER VI.
1844.
My extreme loneliness.—Thoughts of flight.—My father's last illness and death.—Circumstances of my last interview with him.—His funeral.
CHAPTER VII.
1845.
Dislike to Shaw in consequence of the dreadful life I lead there with my father.—My guardian.—Her plan for my education.—Doncaster School.—Mr. Cape and his usher.—The usher's intolerance of Dissenters.—My feeling for architecture and music.—The drawing-master.—My guardian insists on my learning French.—Our French master, Sig. Testa.—A painful incident.—I begin to learn the violin.—Dancing.—My aversion to cricket.—Early readings.—Love of Scott.—My first library.—Classical studies.
CHAPTER VIII.
1845.
Early attempts in English verse.—Advantages of life at Doncaster.—A
school incident.—Fagging.—Story of a dog.—Robbery.—My school-fellow
Henry Alexander.—His remarkable influence.—Other school-fellows.
—Story of a boat.—A swimming adventure.—Our walks and battles.