86 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP, vi 



latter will get steadily worse and become troublesome. He 

 insists on my going away to the South and doing nothing but 

 amuse myself for three or four months. 



This is the devil to pay, but I cannot honestly say that I 

 think he is wrong. Moreover, I promised the wife to abide by 

 his decision. 



We will talk over what is to be done. Ever yours, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



ATHEN/EUM CLUB, Oct. 13, 1884. 



MY DEAR MORLEY I heartily wish I could be with you on 

 the 25th, but it is aliter visum to somebody, whether Dis or 

 Diabolis, I can't say. 



The fact is, the day after I saw you I had to put myself in 

 Clark's hands, and he ordered me to knock off work and go and 

 amuse myself for three or four months, under penalties of an 

 unpleasant kind. 



So I am off to Venice next Wednesday. It is the only toler- 

 ably warm place accessible to any one whose wife will not let 

 him go within reach of cholera just at present. 



If I am a good boy I am to come back all sound, as there is 

 nothing organic the matter; but I have had enough of the 

 world, the flesh, and the devil, and shall extricate myself from 

 that Trinity as soon as may be. Perhaps I may get within 

 measurable distance of Berkeley (English Men of Letters, ed. 

 J.M.) before I die! Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



ATHEN^UM CLUB, October 18, 1884. 



MY DEAR FOSTER Best thanks for your letter and route. I 

 am giving you a frightful quantity of trouble ; but, as the old 

 woman (Irish) said to my wife, when she gave her a pair of 

 my old trousers for her husband, " I hope it may be made up to 

 ye in a better world." 



She is clear, and I am clear, that there is no reason on my 

 part for not holding on if the Society really wishes I should. 

 But, of course, I must make it easy for the Council to get rid 

 of a faineant President, if they prefer that course. 



I wrote to Evans an unofficial letter two days ago, and have 

 had a very kind, straightforward letter from him. He is quite 

 against my resignation. I shall see him this afternoon here. 

 I had to go to my office (Fishery). 



