Two small Dutch dolls (9)
Mr. Charles Archer Cook was at Trinity Hall with me. He is mentioned in the Memoir as having edited The Athenæum in October, 1885, during the absence of MacColl, the editor. Butler and I sometimes dined with him and met his brother, Mr. (afterwards Sir) Edward T. Cook and his wife. Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Cook came to tea with Butler, and Alfred was showing them round the sitting room, while Butler was in his painting room, where he had gone to look for something.
“These are the pictures which the governor does when he is away,” said Alfred, “and these are the photographs which he brings back with him and the plates and images.”
“And please, Alfred, what are these two little dolls among the pictures?”
“Oh, those, ma’am! Those are ---.”
“Alfred!” exclaimed the reproving voice of Butler, who although in the next room, had overheard.
“Well, Sir,” replied Alfred, “that’s what we always call them.”
Alfred was referring to a recent divorce case in which the names of two ladies had been brought prominently before the public, but Butler did not approve of the names being blurted out in the presence of visitors.
A brass bowl which my brother Edward brought from India.
It always stood on my table in Staple Inn, and Butler used it as an ash-tray and played with it and liked the sound it made when he struck it. He also liked its shape, and was pleased with it for not being “spoilt by any silly ornament.” It is mentioned in the Memoir (II. xliii.) when Miss Butler comes to my rooms after Butler’s death.