328 EARLY REMINISCENCES When I was at Clare I knew a pious and conscientious undergraduate, named X, who never missed his chapels. After leaving Cambridge I saw no more of him, but learned eventually that he had been promoted to a Colonial Bishopric. One day I was walking up Regent Street, when I encountered Y.Z., an old college friend, with a bishop prancing at his side. Y.Z. exclaimed: " Why, Gould ! " Then with a face composed to awe, he said to his lordship, who had been arrested in his walk by Y.Z. but was practising the goose-step : " My lord ! Surely your lordship remembers Gould of Clare. He is now rector of East Mersea in Essex, my lord." My eyes kindled, as my heart bounded within my breast. I stretched out my hand to clutch that of Bishop X, at that time a returned empty, though no older than myself, and about to retire on a living near Liverpool with a population of 1500. We had been intimate friends. In response, he extended two gloved fingers to me, and still pawing the ground, like an impatient horse, said with great solemnity : " Ha ! hum ! To be sure. Mr. Gould ! A very great pleasure indeed, hum, ha ! " " My lord," said I, nettled, " I have business elsewhere. I suppose I shall not have the honour to see you again, as you will be shortly returning to your diocese. I want to buy a pair of india-rubber goloshes. I am extremely sensitive to a chill." And I turned away. He did not like that little shaft of mine relative to his diocese which he had occupied under a dozen years. His cheek became mottled, and his lips began to move—but I was round a corner and down a side street before he could articulate a reply. When I was a boy, ay, and later still, these prelates adopted the air and manner of Mr. Dorrit when he emerged from the Marshal-sea, and entered on the possession of a fortune. And now ! Not a bishop prances when he walks, nor practises the goose-step when he halts to converse with you. Not one who will not take off his glove and extend an open hand to the meanest curate in his diocese. To my mind this transformation of the dignitaries of the
