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Hercules had weighed when he was three。 'Ferdinando goes crescendo；'
wrote Filomena in her diary。 'It seems not natural。' At eighteen months
the baby was almost as tall as their smallest jockey； who was a man of
thirty…six。 Could it be that Ferdinando was destined to become a man of
the normal； gigantic dimensions？ It was a thought to which neither of his
parents dared yet give open utterance； but in the secrecy of their respective
diaries they brooded over it in terror and dismay。
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〃On his third birthday Ferdinando was taller than his mother and not
more than a couple of inches short of his father's height。 'To…day for the
first time' wrote Sir Hercules； 'we discussed the situation。 The hideous
truth can be concealed no longer： Ferdinando is not one of us。 On this；
his third birthday； a day when we should have been rejoicing at the health；
the strength； and beauty of our child； we wept together over the ruin of our
happiness。 God give us strength to bear this cross。'
〃At the age of eight Ferdinando was so large and so exuberantly
healthy that his parents decided； though reluctantly； to send him to school。
He was packed off to Eton at the beginning of the next half。 A profound
peace settled upon the house。 Ferdinando returned for the summer
holidays larger and stronger than ever。 One day he knocked down the
butler and broke his arm。 'He is rough； inconsiderate； unamenable to
persuasion；' wrote his father。 'The only thing that will teach him manners
is corporal chastisement。' Ferdinando； who at this age was already
seventeen inches taller than his father； received no corporal chastisement。
〃One summer holidays about three years later Ferdinando returned to
Crome accompanied by a very large mastiff dog。 He had bought it from
an old man at Windsor who had found the beast too expensive to feed。 It
was a savage； unreliable animal； hardly had it entered the house when it
attacked one of Sir Hercules's favourite pugs； seizing the creature in its
jaws and shaking it till it was nearly dead。 Extremely put out by this
occurrence； Sir Hercules ordered that the beast should be chained up in the
stable…yard。 Ferdinando sullenly answered that the dog was his； and he
would keep it where he pleased。 His father； growing angry； bade him
take the animal out of the house at once； on pain of his utmost displeasure。
Ferdinando refused to move。 His mother at this moment coming into the
room； the dog flew at her； knocked her down； and in a twinkling had very
severely mauled her arm and shoulder； in another instant it must infallibly
have had her by the throat； had not Sir Hercules drawn his sword and
stabbed the animal to the heart。 Turning on his son； he ordered him to
leave the room immediately； as being unfit to remain in the same place
with the mother whom he had nearly murdered。 So awe…inspiring was
the spectacle of Sir Hercules standing with one foot on the carcase of the
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gigantic dog； his sword drawn and still bloody； so commanding were his
voice； his gestures； and the expression of his face that Ferdinando slunk
out of the room in terror and behaved himself for all the rest of the
vacation in an entirely exemplary fashion。 His mother soon recovered
from the bites of the mastiff； but the effect on her mind of this adventure
was ineradicable； from that time forth she lived always among imaginary
terrors。
〃The two years which Ferdinando spent on the Continent； making the
Grand Tour； were a period of happy repose for his parents。 But even now
the thought of the future haunted them； nor were they able to solace
themselves with all the diversions of their younger days。 The Lady
Filomena had lost her voice and Sir Hercules was grown too rheumatical
to play the violin。 He； it is true； still rode after his pugs； but his wife felt
herself too old and； since the episode of the mastiff； too nervous for such
sports。 At most； to please her husband； she would follow the hunt at a
distance in a little gig drawn by the safest and oldest of the Shetlands。
〃The day fixed for Ferdinando's return came round。 Filomena； sick
with vague dreads and presentiments； retired to her chamber and her bed。
Sir Hercules received his son alone。 A giant in a brown travelling…suit
entered the room。 'Welcome home； my son；' said Sir Hercules in a voice
that trembled a little。
〃'I hope I see you well； sir。' Ferdinando bent down to shake hands；
then straightened himself up again。 The top of his father's head reached
to the level of his hip。
〃Ferdinando had not come alone。 Two friends of his own age
accompanied him； and each of the young men had brought a servant。 Not
for thirty years had Crome been desecrated by the presence of so many
members of the common race of men。 Sir Hercules was appalled and
indignant； but the laws of hospitality had to be obeyed。 He received the
young gentlemen with grave politeness and sent the servants to the kitchen；
with orders that they should be well cared for。
〃The old family dining…table was dragged out into the light and dusted
（Sir Hercules and his lady were accustomed to dine at a small table twenty
inches high）。 Simon； the aged butler； who could only just look over the
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edge of the big table； was helped at supper by the three servants brought
by Ferdinando and his guests。
〃Sir Hercules presided； and with his usual grace supported a
conversation on the pleasures of foreign travel； the beauties of art and
nature to be met with abroad； the opera at Venice； the singing of the
orphans in the churches of the same city； and on other topics of a similar
nature。 The young men were not particularly attentive to his discourses；
they were occupied in watching the efforts of the butler to ch