A YORKSHIRE NATURALIST 211 



happy stay in Scotland that I became seriously 

 anxious. 



During a small impromptu concert he suddenly 

 fainted, and the faint was long and severe. Immedi- 

 ately on our return home I asked the help of my 

 husband's old friend, Dr. Hecksher, who had 

 attended him through the severe illness of thirty 

 years before, and who knew his constitution 

 thoroughly well. 



Dr. Hecksher, after careful examination, found 

 nothing worse than the effect of overwork, showing 

 itself in what he called " deterioration." Dr. William- 

 son had given up medical practice some time before ; 

 he now discontinued popular lectures, though the loss 

 cost him a wrench, as he intensely enjoyed this part of 

 his work, and we practically ceased visiting. With 

 these reductions the winter passed fairly well, but 

 the summer again tried him severely, and in an hotel 

 in Geneva he had another serious faint. 



He had spent an afternoon with his old friend and 

 fellow botanist, M. de Candolle, to the mutual enjoy- 

 ment of the veterans. After this visit he joined us 

 full of pleasures already enjoyed, and of plans for the 

 morrow. 



In the morning he looked tired and unwell, but pre- 

 ferred to come downstairs for breakfast, still before 

 coffee appeared, he became so much more strange, I 

 urged his lying down. He walked with help to the 

 door of the room and then fell. We took him up- 

 stairs, and after perfect quiet for a day or two he was 



