250 HERSCHEL AM) HIS WO 



me some weeks ago tliat the Times contained tin- same 

 report, to which 1 replied, 'It is a lie!' but \\ ' 

 heard from Dr. Tias to-day makes me almost 1>< li 

 possible. Ja ! i! I wa^ thirty or forty years younger, 

 ami could go too? In Gottes nahmen ! But I will 

 not think about it till you y<urM-lf tdl me more 

 for I have enough to think of my cramps, blindness, 

 sleepless nights, etc," She was a wonderful " little ( ,1.1 

 in." Pointed at on the street, honoured by the 

 Palace, and saluted with profoundest respect at theatre 

 or concert, she wrote, "Next to listening to the con- 

 versation of learned men, I like to hear about them, 

 but I find myself, unfortunately, among beings who 

 like nothing but smoking, big talk on politics, wars and 

 such like things." I ler in< liquation flamed up as fiercely 

 when she was ninety years of age as it used to do when 

 she was twenty, especially at anyone who took her 

 for what she was not, weak of will or understanding. 

 " Thank God, I have yet sense enough left to caution 

 you against being imposed upon by a stupid 1 

 who would make you believe I died under obligations 

 to any of the family. I know he has already, without 

 asking my leave, passed himself off for my guardian, 

 ami is vexed at my being able to do without him. 

 But I could not live without that little business of 

 keeping my accounts ; and by my last book of 

 and receipts may be seen, that I owe nothing t< 

 body, but to my phew many many thank 



fulfil! father's wishes, by paying for so many 



years the ample annuity he left me." What a brave 

 little old woman she was ! Nobody but herself was at 

 liberty to call her "an old poor sick creature in her 

 clotu; 



