154 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. Vi 



for a real invalid, who must either go uphill or downhill 

 over the worst of roads if he leaves the hoteL 



The air here is like that of South Devon at its best — 

 very soft, but not stifling as at Orotava. We had a capital 

 expedition yesterday to the Grand Corral — the ancient 

 volcanic crater in the middle of the island with walls 

 some 3000 feet high, all scarred and furrowed by ravines, 

 and overgro\\Ti with rich vegetation. There is a little 

 village at the bottom of it which I should esteem as a 

 retreat if I wished to be out of sight and hearing of the 

 pomps and vanities of this world. By the way, I have 

 been pretty well out of hearing of ever)i;hing as it is, for 



I only had three letters from M while we were in 



Tenerifife, and not one here up to this date. After I had 

 made all my arrangements to start to-morrow I heard 

 that a mail would be in at noon. So the letters will 

 have to follow us in the afternoon by one of the men, 

 who will wait for them. 



We went to-day to lunch with Mr. Blandy, the head 

 of the principal shipping agency here, whose wife is the 

 daughter of my successor at the Fishery Oflice. 



Well, our trip has done us both a world of good ; but 

 I am getting homesick, and shall rejoice to be back again. 

 I hope that Joyce is flourishiag, and Jack satisfied with 

 the hanging of his pictures, and that a millionaire has 

 insisted on buying the picture and adding a bonus. Our 

 best love to you all. — Ever your loving 



Pater. 



Don't know M 's whereabouts. But if she is with 



you, say I wrote her a long screed (No. 8) and posted it 

 to-day — with my love as a model husband and complete 

 letter-writer. 



On returning home he found that the Linnean 

 medal had been awarded him. 



