DIFFICULTIES, DUMPS AND DIMPLES. l6/ 



Thus were dangerous arguments wisely terminated, 

 and gathering clouds dispelled, by gay, good-hearted 

 humour. 



The hardness of botanical work at Whitehouse, with 

 all its joys, was also not unfrequently relieved by the 

 genialities of friendly visits ; for man's social instincts 

 cannot be satisfied even with the delights of intellectual 

 enthusiasm. Charles's relish of friendly society was then 

 very strong, and John's was greater than his retiring self- 

 containedness would indicate. Friends dropped in not 

 unfrequently, to talk over the news of the day, especially 

 the stirring questions that ushered in Disruption times, and 

 the various social and political movements rising in the 

 country. Plants were then thrown aside, for few of the 

 visitors were botanists. Games were started, and very 

 frequently, those "high jinks" were played in which 

 youthful vigour and fun seem naturally to seek relief, 

 especially during the stormy winter of 1838, when outdoor 

 exercise became impossible. 



The old-fashioned game of "catch the ten" gave 

 pleasant excitement to many a quartette. John was 

 generally Charles's weak but willing partner, and the house- 

 keeper sometimes condescended to relax her severities by 

 taking a hand for in Aberdeen "the deil's books," as the 

 innocent cards are called in puritanic Scotland, never were 

 viewed with the instinctive horror of other over-Calvinistic 

 regions. The big house would then ring with the sallies of 

 good-humoured fun and kindly poking at each other's 

 foibles. Sober John, earnest in play as. in work, received 

 perhaps the larger share of such attentions. But the philo- 

 sopher, sad with silent griefs they knew not of, could 



