LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS EARL RUSSELL IN 1885 FRANK AND RACHEL, 1870 . THE DOWAGER LADY STANLEY OF ALDERLEY, 1888 Frontispiece FACING PAGE 4 30 30 110 114 208 268 268 276 292 292 My Life and Adventures M CHAPTER I RAVENSCROFT Y earliest recollections are connected with Rodborough. I am told that I was born on the 12th August, 1865, but of that I have no recollection. Rodborough Manor was an enormous house bought by my grandfather Lord John, and lent to my father, Viscount Amberley. It was on one of the sides of the Stroud Valley overlooking the valley. I remember nothing of the house itself except one very large empty room in it on the ground floor, which had a particular fascination for me. I suppose it must. have been an unused reception-room of some kind. I do remember, however, being able to see the smoke of the trains in the valley from the railing separating the garden from the meadow. Even at this early age this used to interest me profoundly. I also recollect that there was a sort of ridge along which we used to walk to a Catholic Convent in which my mother took some interest, and I remember very well the sealskin jacket she wore, because I used much to enjoy rubbing my head and face against the soft smoothness of it. I seem to recollect also a sort of path ending in a kind of little wood a few hundred yards from the house, where a tiresome old woman used improperly to tether her donkey, and I think it was this same old woman who on one occasion sold my mother a hen which was warranted to have the virtuous habit of not laying on Sundays. After purchase it was discovered that the hen extended the same strict principles to the majority of the Roman Saints' Days. In the year 1870 my grandfather decided to sell Rodborough and my father was turned out and had to seek a new dwelling of his own. From subsequent information and correspondence I have read I gather that he was rather sore at this uprooting. My remembrances of Ravenscroft begin properly enough with B |