As he had written in his own name, and had not mentioned his brother's work at all, part at least of the accusation was transparently and obviously false.
At last, however, Freeman had gone too far.

Froude had borne a great deal, he could bear no more; and he took up a weapon which Freeman never forgot.

I can well recall, as can hundreds of others, the appearance in The Nineteenth Century for April, 1879, of "A Few Words on Mr.Freeman." They were read with a sense of general pleasure and satisfaction, a boyish delight in seeing a big bully well thrashed before the whole school.

Froude was so calm, so dignified, so self- restrained, so consciously superior to his rough antagonist in temper and behaviour.

Only once did he show any emotion.