1893 THE ROIMANES LECTURE 289 



HODESLEA, Nov. 1, 1892. 



My dear Mrs. Eomanes — I have just written to the 

 Vice -Chancellor to say that I hope to be at his disposition 

 any time next May. 



Jtly wife is " larking " — I am sorry to use such a word, 

 but what she is pleased to tell me of her doings leaves me 

 no alternative — in London, whither I go on Thursday to 

 fetch her back — in chains, if necessary. But I know, in 

 the matter of being " taken in and done for " by your 

 hospitable selves, I may, for once, speak for her as well as 

 myself. 



Don't ask anybody above the rank of a younger son of 

 a Peer — because I shall not be able to go in to dinner 

 before him or her — and that part of my dignity is 

 naturally what I prize most. 



Would you not like me to come in my P.O. suit ? All 

 ablaze with gold, and costing a sum with which I could 

 buy, oh ! so many books ! 



Only if your late experiences should prompt you to 

 instruct your other guests not to contradict me — don't. 

 I rather like it. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Bon Voyage ! You can tell Mr. Jones ^ that I will 

 have him brought before the Privy Council and fined, as 

 in the good old days, if he does not treat you properly. 



This letter was afterwards published in Mrs. 

 Eomanes' Life of her husband, and three letters on 

 that occasion, and particularly that in which Huxley 

 tried to guard her from any malicious interpretation 

 of his jests, are to be found on p. 332. 



On the afternoon of May 18, 1893, he delivered 



^ The hotel-keeper in Aladeira. 

 VOL. Ill U 



