44 LIFE OK PROFESSOR HUXLEY cuap. II 



would hardly write of his own griefs unbidden even 

 to old friends, 



85 Marina, St. Leonards, 

 Nov. 21, 1887. 



My dear Spencer — You will not have forgotten my 

 bright girl IMarian, who married so happily and with 

 such bright prospects half a dozen years ago ? 



Well, she died three days ago of a sudden attack of 

 pneumonia, which carried her off almost without warning. 

 And I cannot convey to you a sense of the terrible 

 sufferings of the last three years better than by saying 

 that I, her father, who loved her well, am glad that the 

 end has come thus. . . . 



My poor wife is well nigh crushed by the blow. For 

 though I had lost hope, it was not in the nature of things 

 that she should. 



Don't answer this — I have half a mind to tear it up 

 — for when one is in a pool of trouble there is no sort of 

 good in splashing other people. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



As for his plans, he writes to Sir J. Hooker on 

 November 21 : — 



I had set my heart on seeing you get the Copley on 

 the 30th. In fact, I made the Manchester people, to 

 whom I had made a promise to go down and address 

 the Technical Education Association, change their day to 

 the 29th for that reason. 



I cannot leave them in the lurch after stirring up the 

 business in the way I have done, and I must go and give 

 my address. But I must get back to my poor wife as 

 fast as I can, and I cannot face any more publicity than 

 that which it would be cowardly to shirk just now. So 

 I shall not be at the Society except in the spirit. — Ever 

 yours, T. H. Huxley. 



