202 DARWINIANISM. 



2. But we are concerned with the wile here only so far 

 as it relates to success ; and we turn, secondly, now to 

 its bearing, in the same reference, on enemies, or on 

 those at least who were, in some way, or to some extent, 

 apparently opposed to him. 



It is in regard to what is here concerned, any element 

 adverse, that the so bepraised candour comes in. Now, 

 it is to be understood that, with whatever is to be said, 

 Mr. Darwin's candour is never for a moment in doubt. 

 May we not justifiably attempt, however, to read at times 

 between the lines even in this candour ? So to look 

 between the lines is to see certainly the candour, but, 

 surely, not also without a tinge at times of the wile. 

 See, for instance, his replies as a whole to those corre- 

 spondents who rather differ from him as to conditions. 

 He is always, so far, candid in these ; but is there not 

 also the wile of as much, or even more agreement than 

 he has it at bottom to give ? Of course, it is here that 

 the courtesy comes in ; but his courtesy itself is not 

 unsmoothed by the wile. As much wiliness as is 

 supposed, indeed, could only give the last touch to his 

 courtesy nay, perhaps, it is pretty well exclusively in 

 regard to the courtesy that there can be any question at 

 all of the wiliness. The good effect of the courtesy, for 

 example, is no more hid from the wiliness, it may be, 

 than the persuasion is clear to it of a little judicious 

 expression to foes. " Sleek Benjamin " l disarmed his 

 adversary by begging the loan of the rare book he had. 

 Mr. Darwin, however, if a little sly as a gentleman 

 might be, never condescended to be sleek. He is scarcely 

 more than kindhearted when (ii. 92) he finds his friend 

 Hooker " a little too hard on bad observers." " An 

 observer who deserves to be damned," he objects to him, 



1 "Our Deane, our Franklin Sleek Silas, sleek Benjamin." 

 Carlyle. 



