io Selections from Huxley 



as Sir William was personally unknown to me, but my 

 cheery friend would not listen to my scruples, so I went 

 to my lodgings and wrote the best letter I could devise. 

 A few days afterwards I received the usual official cir- 

 5 cular acknowledgment, but at the bottom there was 

 written an instruction to call at Somerset House on such 

 a day. I thought that looked like business, so at the ap- 

 pointed time I called and sent in my card, while I 

 waited in Sir William's ante-room! 1 * He was a tall, 



io shrewd-looking old gentleman, with a broad Scotch ac- 

 cent and I think I see him now as he entered with my 

 card in his hand. The first thing he did was to return it, 

 with the frugal reminder that I should probably find it 

 useful on some other occasion. The second was to ask 



15 whether I was an Irishman. I suppose the air of modesty 

 about my appeal must have struck him. I satisfied the 

 Director-General that I was English to the backbone, 

 and he made some inquiries as to my student career, finally 

 desiring me to hold myself ready for examination. Having 



20 passed this, I was in her Majesty's service, and entered on 

 the books of Nelson's old ship, the Victory, for duty at 

 Haslar Hospital, about a couple of months after I made 

 my application. 



My official chief at Haslar was a very remarkable per- 



25 son, the late Sir John Richardson, an excellent naturalist, 

 and far-famed as an indomitable Arctic traveler. He was 

 a silent, reserved man, outside the circle of his family and 

 intimates; and, having a full share of youthful vanity, I 

 was extremely disgusted to find that " Old John," as we 



30 irreverent youngsters called him, took not the slightest 

 notice of my worshipful self either the first time I at- 

 tended him, as it was my duty to do, or for some weeks 

 afterwards. I am afraid to think of the lengths to which 

 my tongue may have run on the subject of the churlish- 



