Arthur went up to the University, Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1870; he did not distinguish himself there, or acquire more than he had done at Winchester: "The one thing I learnt at Winchester that has been useful to me since, was how to tie up old letters: my house-master taught me how to do that--it was about all he was fit for.

The thing I learnt at Cambridge was to smoke: my cousin Fred taught me that, and he was hardly fit for that." As it was at Cambridge that I first met him, I will give a short description of him as far as I can remember.
He was a tall, lounging fellow, rather clumsy in his movements, but with a kind of stateliness about him; he looked, and was, old for his years.

He was a little short-sighted and wore glasses; without them his brow had that puzzled, slightly bothered look often seen in weak-sighted people.

His face was not unattractive, though rather heavy; his hair was dark and curly--he let it grow somewhat long from indolence--and he had a drooping moustache.

He was one of the men who, without the slightest idea of doing so, always managed to create rather an impression.