14 AUGUST 1953, Page 18

Eric, or Little by Little

SIR,—I haven't got a copy of the immortal work at hand, but I feel sure Mr. Horace Wyndham has misrepresented it. The words " Gordon is a surly devil " were not spoken at all but written, and not written by Eric but by the school blackguard, as was convincingly proved by the good Russell. As for Eric's first swear. I should like to think it ran as follows:- " ` Pish said Eric. It was the first time he had ever sworn." But I fear that also is a misrepresentation.—Yours faithfully,

The Hall, Somersal Herbert, Derby.

N. H. FITZHERBERT.