CHAPTER II.

1856-1872.

CHILDHOOD.

THERE are only very scanty materials upon which to draw for a picture of Ellen Watson's earliest years. Every child is full of interest to all who love little children; and there are few who do not at that age command admiration as well as love by the sweet innocence natural to childhood, and the fresh charm of opening intelligence. But each day brings new unfoldings of the budding life, and the past is lost sight of in the ever-increasing delight in the later growth of the child's nature. It is thus very difficult to recall in after years the impressions made day by day by the little child at the beginning of life, for love and interest are ever in the present rather than in the past; and it is only in the blank caused by death that memory seeks to

bring back to life even the dim picture of early childhood.

It seems, however, that Ellen Watson's parents retained to later years the distinct impression of their little child's remarkable readiness of understanding and extreme rapidity of thought, in which they traced the indications of that intellectual brilliance which afterwards distinguished her. But even more vivid still is the impression yet retained of her great loveliness of character, of her childlike trust and openness, her fine sense of right and wrong, her deep unselfish love, and tender thoughtfulness for others.

Ellen was the eldest daughter in the family, and was born in London on the 26th of February 1856. Her father was at that time a tutor in University College, of which his child was afterwards to become so distinguished a student. Before many years had passed she found herself one amongst a large family of younger children; and she very early took that position which she ever held as her first duty, the place of the eldest sister of the group of younger companions, who looked up to her and clung to her as their guide and truest friend.

At that early time she was the centre of the nursery life, the inventor of plays, the general peacemaker, and the one always ready to yield her own pleasure and time to the help and amusement of the others. In later years she still remained the truest helper of her brothers and sisters, full of sympathy in all that concerned them, and seeking, with all the energy which inspired her, their upward growth as well as her own. None of the friendships she formed in after life ever lessened the strength and constancy of her home love, and none of the paths opened to her intellectual progress and distinction ever tempted her to turn aside from the duties springing out of her relations as a daughter and a sister.

In 1865 Mr. Watson gave up his work in connection with University College, and removed to Reading, where he opened a school. Ellen was at that time about nine years old, and she was sent as a day pupil to a ladies' school in Reading. Here she received her first regular education, and showed something of that power of understanding and quick insight into things which always made study such an intense enjoyment to her.

When the Principal of this school removed to

Clifton Ellen accompanied her as a boarder, and remained under her care until she was nearly fifteen. In December 1870 she passed the Cambridge Local Junior Examination in the usual English subjects, and in mathematics, taking honours in French. At the close of this year she left school with the idea of continuing her studies at home. The plan of work which she formed was very characteristic of her strong sense of the necessity for a liberal culture in order to reach a full development of all her powers. Her special talent was undoubtedly for mathematics, and in pursuing this study exclusively she might have gratified her own intellectual taste, and have attained a more rapid distinction in this science; but the aim of her work was raised always above present results, and she was so much more anxious to reach the ideal of completeness than to display her power in narrower limits, that the first subjects she took up on leaving school were Literature and Art.

For the study of the former she joined a class of ladies who were reading some of the standard works of English literature, and it was in connection with this class that I first became acquainted

with the richness and beauty of Ellen Watson's mind. From the nature of the subjects we were reading it was the imaginative and poetic side of her character which was most strongly brought into view; and through this was seen her intense love of moral beauty, her pure sense of the ideal, and her fine correct taste. An intimacy thus begun, retained in its confidences much of the special character of its origin; and the memory of this treasured friendship is full of recollections of her ardent sympathy with everything beautiful and good; of how readily she was stirred by any noble or touching sentiment, and jarred by any false tone in taste or feeling.

At that time, and for some years afterwards, before physical ill-health and mental conflict had cast a shadow over her spirit, her imagination was singularly bright and vigorous, and her fancy full of play, so that she would readily seize on the materials of life and weave them into new forms, showing a power of conception and arrangement which indicated real literary talents. She had also a quick sense of humour and ready wit, as well as that power of expression in pathos which she retained through life. Had she lived