His doctor's degree--he was Doctor of Laws--was
gained by fair hard work. Think of that, and then look at my picture of
the sodden, filthy scarecrow! Yes; that man began my education, and had
I only gone straight on I should not be loafing about The Chequers. You
ask how he could have anything to do with my education? Well, long ago I
was a little bookworm, living in a lonely country house, and I had the
run of some good shelves. I was only nine years old, but a huge history
in two volumes attracted me most. I read and read that book until I
could repeat whole pages easily, and even now I can go off at score if
you give me a start.
The Scarecrow wrote that history!
Years afterwards I was fighting my way in London, and had charge of a
journal which made a name in its day. Sometimes I had to deal with a
message from a Minister of State, sometimes with a petition from a
starving penny-a-liner. One day a little man was shown into my room,
which room was instantly scented with whisky. He was well introduced,
and I said, "Are you the Doctor ---- who wrote the 'History of ----'?"
"I am, sir, and proud I shall be to write for you.
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