There were several portraits of him also, all utterly unlike one another, or only agreeing in one respect, namely, their total dissimilarity from the bust.
We likewise saw the very desk Shakspeare used, after creeping unwillingly to school with a shining face like a snail's. I was pained to see evidence of the mischievousness of the juvenile genius, for it was slashed and hacked to such a doleful degree as to be totally incapacitated for scholastic use!
I myself was sprightly in my youth, but never, I am proud to say, to the extent of wilfully damaging my master's furniture! Before leaving, we walked to visit the residence of Shakspeare's wife, which turned out to be a very humble thatched-roof affair, such as is commonly occupied by peasants.
But, as Mrs Allbutt-Innett said, it is a sad fact that distinguished literary characters often make most imprudent marriages. Which put me in a wonderment whether she had heard anything about myself and Miss Mankletow.
At one of the bazaars I purchased a beautiful Shakspearian souvenir, in the form of a coloured porcelain model of Shakspeare's birthplace, which can be rendered transparent and luminous by the insertion of a night-light.
This I had intended humbly to offer for the gracious acceptance of Miss Wee-Wee, but having thrust it into a coat-tail pocket, I unfortunately sat upon it in the train as we were returning.
So I presented it as a token of remembrance to Jessimina, who was transported with delight at the gift, which she said could be easily rendered the statu quo by dint of a little diamond cement.