WITH TOM AT WINDSOR CASTLE AND ETON
"WHEN do we start, papa, and which way are we to go, and are we to see
Tom first, or the castle?" asked Edith, all in one breath, as soon as
she had kissed her mamma and papa good morning in the breakfast-room.
"Oh, you little fidget!" said Colonel Howard, good-naturedly, "sit down
and eat your breakfast and we will try and answer one question at a
time. Now, which would you rather see first, Tom or the castle?"
"Tom, of course," cried Edith, without hesitation, for she and her
brother were great chums, though she was only a little girl, while in
her eyes, as well as in his own, Master Tom was quite a man.
"Well, then, Tom first, and we will take him to the castle with us.
Though he has been there before, he will enjoy the day with us.
"We will drive along the river road, for that is the prettiest way,
though the longest, and we will start as soon as mamma is ready. Now,
miss, all of your questions are satisfactorily answered, and it only
remains for you children not to keep us waiting."
There was no danger of that. The young people were in the carriage
before Colonel and Mrs. Howard came down-stairs, and soon they were
bowling along the shady road, the hawthorn hedges on either side
perfuming the air with their white blossoms.
They passed through several quaint little riverside villages with queer
little inns, where those who want to fish or boat on the river go for a
lunch or tea, which they can enjoy on a gallery, or in a garden
overlooking the water.
"There's Windsor Castle," cried Edith. "I knew it from the pictures; it
is a real story-book castle." And, sure enough, high up over the trees
rose the great gray towers and walls at whose very base flowed the
Thames.
"There is one of the most historic spots on our river," said Colonel
Howard, pointing to a small island covered with trees. "It does not look
very important, but tradition says a great event took place there. Way
back in the early history of our country the kings had such absolute
power that they could do almost anything they liked, and if they were
not good men this led them to oppress their subjects and take away their
liberties. So the great barons of the country forced King John to give
them their 'Charter,' on this little island, called Runnymede. All this
is difficult for you little girls to understand, but some day you will
read more about it in your history."
"You can see, Edith, over those meadows yonder, where Tom lives. That is
Eton, and this is one of the prettiest views of the college," said Mrs.
Howard.
In a few minutes they were among the old buildings of the most famous of
boys' schools, and found Tom ready for them, full of enthusiasm at the
prospect of a day off in company with his family.
The Howard family was a very devoted one, and no wonder they were proud
of Tom. He was a fine, healthy, rosy-cheeked boy with frank, blue eyes
and short-clipped brown hair. He had on a suit like that worn by all the
Eton boys, which has now become the proper dress for English boys of
certain ages, especially schoolboys. It consists of long gray trousers
and a short black jacket, coming just to the waist, known as the "Eton
jacket"; over this is a broad white collar, and they wear with this
costume a high silk hat, just like the one your papa wears, except of
course it is smaller.
"I wrote to you that I was in the 'eights' that is to row at Henley,
papa; well, we are working hard to beat them. By Jove! we have got a
strict coach; he is keeping the fellows up to the mark," and Tom talked
on with enthusiasm about the boat-races at Henley-on-Thames, at which
their crew of eight was to compete for one of the prizes known as "The
Ladies' Plate."
As he talked, he led them through the colleges and into the chapel,
pointing out everything to the little girls with a lofty air of
proprietorship which greatly impressed them with his importance, and
when he showed them the "playing fields" where cricket was going on, and
spoke in an offhand manner of "our men," the little girls looked at him
with great awe and admiration.
It was all new to Edith and Adelaide, so Tom took them through some of
the old class-rooms, where many celebrated men had learned their
lessons. The rough, wooden benches and desks had been hacked and cut up
by the knives of schoolboys for many hundred years. It used to be the
fashion for the boys to cut their names somewhere on the oak-panelled
walls of their schoolrooms, and many names that have since become famous
can be seen there to-day. The boys liked to do it all the more, because
it was forbidden, but gradually it became the custom, and the proper
thing to do.
After Tom had duly impressed the glories of his school upon his sister
and cousin, the whole party set out for Windsor Castle, just across the
river from Eton.
In a few minutes they were climbing the hill on which the castle stands,
and the carriage stopped at the big entrance gate, on either side of
which stands a sentry in a bright red coat and a great bearskin helmet
on his head.
[Illustration: WINDSOR CASTLE]
"Now, my dears, you are really inside the king's home," said Colonel
Howard, as with some other visitors they followed the guide through the
handsome rooms, with their elegant furniture and valuable pictures. From
the windows was a fine view extending many miles over the great park
which surrounds the castle.
"On certain days of the week," said Colonel Howard, "a band plays on the
terrace below, and then the grounds and terrace are free to all who wish
to come, while the Royal Family often sit at these windows and enjoy the
music."
They also visited the beautiful chapel, where the king and his family
attend service when they are at the castle.
Soon our party came to meet the carriage again outside the great
gateway. "Drive to the 'White Swan,' John," said Colonel Howard, "we
are going to lunch there."
"That's good," said Tom. "It's a jolly nice place; they will give us a
good dinner. Look, papa," he continued, excitedly, "there is Prince
Eddie and his brother in that carriage coming toward us. I knew they
were staying at 'Frogmore House.'"
The two boy princes, manly-looking young boys, dressed in sailor suits,
were chattering gaily with their tutor, who accompanied them, and
smilingly returned the bows of Colonel Howard's party as they passed.
They are the two oldest sons of the Prince of Wales; they are
fine-looking little fellows, and enjoy nothing better than their home
life in the country, cycling around Windsor Park, or fishing and boating
on the river.
Our little party enjoyed a bountiful dinner in the cool dining-room of
the "White Swan Inn," with its dark, oak-panelled walls, and big
sideboard, set out with fine old silver and china.
The solemn, smooth-faced old waiter deftly served them. First they had a
delicious fried sole, and then the dish without which no English person
thinks dinner is complete,--a big joint of good English roast beef,
which as a matter of fact mostly comes from Scotland.
With the roast beef there are potatoes and vegetables. Afterward there
was a pudding, for a real English dinner must always finish with
pudding. Then follows cheese, which is eaten with salad, the salad being
usually lettuce and eaten only with salt. Sometimes they have coffee
after dinner, but the English are not great coffee drinkers. You must
have found out by this time that they are much more fond of tea.
"Let's go for a row on the river," was the first suggestion after they
had left the table and were seated in the garden of the inn, from Tom,
who was eager to show his skill in handling the oars.
"I am sure your mother and I prefer to rest awhile; we are not so keen
for exertion just after dinner," said Colonel Howard, "but you can take
the two girls, only don't go too far, for we have a long ride before
us."
So the young people enjoyed a half-hour's row; then Tom was driven back
to his school, all promising to meet again at Henley.
It was the cool of the evening when John drove through the manor gates,
and needless to say our two little girls slept that night like tops.
Somehow this toy has the reputation of being a very sound sleeper. Can
somebody explain why?