Meanwhile a new inroad of care had for the last fortnight, since the late news from Uppingham, disquieted the colony.  Major Tulloch, a Government Inspector, who, on behalf of the Local Sanitary Board, had reported on the state of the town of Uppingham, had expressed a strong opinion that the school ought not to return thither before Christmas.  In consequence of this a memorial was sent from the masters to the Trustees, requesting them to reverse their decision of June 17th, which recalled the school in September.  At a meeting of the Trustees, on July 14th, the following resolution was passed: 

Resolved—­“That, while in the opinion of the Trustees there is nothing in the present condition of the town of Uppingham which calls upon them to rescind their resolution of the 17th ult, yet, having regard to a memorial addressed to them by the whole body of the assistant- masters, they are willing, in compliance with the same, that the school shall remain at Borth during the autumn term.”

Arrangements were at once begun for returning to camp after the holidays.  The responsibility for this step, which was thus devolved upon the masters, though it was accepted without hesitation, was felt to be no light one.  Our engagement with the lessee of the hotel had provided for a renewal of the contract at will; but there remained the owners of some thirty houses, large and small, with whom we should have to reckon.  They would have us in their hands, and might, if so minded, “turn our necessity to glorious gain.”  Then, too, many of the lodging-houses, excellent as airy summer pavilions, did not promise much comfort in winter time, to those who remembered how in the spring weeks the curtains and everything movable within doors

   Fluttered in the besieging wind’s uproar,
   And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor.

Moreover, natives who knew, threatened us with rain all day and every day, from the beginning of September till the end of October, after which it would be dry.  Others, who also knew, promised us fine weather till the latter date, and then wet till Christmas.  Putting the two assurances together, one inferred that weather at Borth would be like weather in general.  However, in prospect of winds and wet, the open porch of the hotel was walled up with planks so as to put another door between the sou’-wester and the diners in the corridor.  Also a long lean-to shed, like a cloister without windows, was run along two sides of the bowling-green wall.  The outlay on the latter yielded no adequate return.  It afforded some shelter for chapel roll-call, and for the few minutes’ lounge before evening prayers, except when it rained hard enough, and then the water poured through the contractor’s felt roof.  It was too narrow to be used, as was hoped, for games; unless, indeed, we had turned it into a skittle-alley.  But then skittles is a game of low connections.  Finally, well-wishers were solemn in their warnings that the drainage of the spot was defective (which, indeed, was no otherwise than true, till we brought about a reform), and that our settlement by the sea was nothing if it was not healthy.