The child, as he passes that grand mansion, little dreams that, some twenty-five years later, he will buy it for his own residence. [Illustration: DESK SAID TO BE SHAKESPEARE'S] The school-room probably looks much the same to-day as it did when William studied there, the modern plastered ceiling which hid the oak roof of the olden time having been removed. The wainscoted walls, with the small windows high above the floor, are evidently ancient. An old desk, which may have been the master's, and a few rude forms, or benches, are now the only furniture; for the school was long since removed to ampler and more convenient quarters. A desk, said with no authority whatever to have been used by Shakespeare, is preserved in the Henley Street house. What did William study in the Grammar School? Not much except arithmetic and Latin, with perhaps a little Greek and a mere smattering of other branches. His first lessons in Latin were probably from two well-known books of the time, the _Accidence_ and the _Sententiæ Pueriles_. The examination of Master Page by the Welsh parson and schoolmaster, Sir Hugh Evans, in _The Merry Wives of Windsor_ (iv. 1) is taken almost verbally from the _Accidence_. Mrs. Page, accompanied by her son and the illiterate Dame Quickly, meets Sir Hugh in the street, and this dialogue ensues:-- "_Mrs. Page._ How now, Sir Hugh! no school to-day? _Evans._ No; master Slender is get the boys leave to play. _Quickly._ Blessing of his heart! _Mrs. Page._ Sir Hugh, my husband says, my son profits nothing in the world at his book. I pray you, ask him some questions in his accidence. _Evans._ Come hither, William; hold up your head; come. _Mrs. Page._ Come on, sirrah; hold up your head; answer your master, be not afraid. _Evans._ William, how many numbers is in nouns? _William._ Two. _Quickly._ Truly, I thought there had been one number more, because they say, 'od's nouns. _Evans._ Peace your tattlings!--What is _fair_, William? _William._ _Pulcher._ _Quickly._ Pole-cats! there are fairer things than pole-cats, sure. _Evans._ You are a very simplicity 'oman; I pray you peace.--What is _lapis_, William? _William._ A stone. _Evans._ And what is a stone, William? _William._ A pebble. _Evans._ No, it is _lapis_: I pray you remember in your prain. _William._ _Lapis._ _Evans._ That is a good William. What is he, William, that does lend articles? _William._ Articles are borrowed of the pronoun; and be thus declined, _Singulariter_, _nominativo_, _hic_, _hæc_, _hoc_. _Evans._ _Nominativo_, _hig_, _hag_, _hog_;--pray you, mark: _genitivo, hujus_. Well, what is your accusative case? _William._ _Accusativo_, _hinc_. _Evans._ I pray you, have your remembrance, child; _accusativo_, _hung_, _hang_, _hog_. _Quickly._ Hang-hog is Latin for bacon, I warrant you. _Evans._ Leave your prabbles, 'oman.--What is the focative case, William?