394 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CH. xv 



" Oh, I brought a guide from the village below." 

 " Well, what can I do for you ? " "I believe, sir, 

 that you are acquainted with a young lady friend of 

 mine (naming her) who has had a chemical educa- 

 tion?" ''Certainly, the lady is a good chemist." 

 " Yes," he replied, " but I found that she could not 

 answer to my satisfaction a question in chemistry, 

 to which I desired an authoritative reply, and there- 

 fore I came from London to consult you. I wish to 

 know, sir, what is the meaning of H 2 O?" Recover- 

 ing from my amazement I endeavoured to explain 

 what this cryptic symbol meant. " I am deeply 

 indebted to you, sir, for your lucid explanation," 

 and he then proceeded to enlarge upon the import- 

 ance of the information I had given him, to such 

 length that I ventured to suggest that if he delayed 

 he would miss the last train to town. " Thanks, 

 sir," he replied, " I have taken steps to avoid the 

 necessity of an immediate return, as I have engaged 

 rooms for the night at a neighbouring inn ! " 



No visits are more welcome to us than those paid 

 us each summer by the Mallet family, consisting of 

 our daughter, her husband, and their two sons. 



And thus my wife and I renew our youthful days 

 in watching the happiness and progress of our grand- 

 children. 



