358 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. Xiy 



daughter. I forget whether you have had any previous 

 experience of the " Art d'etre Grandpere " or not — but I 

 can as-sure you, from 14 such experiences, that it is easy 

 and pleasant of acquirement, and that the objects of it are 

 veritable "articles de luxe," involving mucli amusement 

 and no sort of responsibility on the part of the possessor. 

 You shall have the rest of my screed by to-morrow's 

 post. — Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



HoDESLEA, Eastbourne, 

 Februa-nj 20, 1895. 



My dear Knowles — Seven mortal hours have I been 

 hard at work this day to try to keep my promise to you, 

 and as I find that impossible, I have struck work and 

 will see Balfour and his Foundations, and even that ark 

 of literature the Nineteenth, at Ballywack, before I do any 

 more. 



But the whole affair shall be sent by a morning's post 

 to-morrow. I have the proofe. I have found the thing 

 getting too long for one paper, and requiring far more 

 care than I could put into the next two days — so I 

 propose to divide it, if you see no objection. 



And there is another reason for this course. Influenza 

 is raging here. I hear of hundreds of cases, and if it 

 comes my way, as it did before, I go to bed and stop 

 there — "the world forgetting and by the world forgot" 

 — until I am killed or cured. So you would not get your 

 article. 



As it stands, it is not a bad gambit. We will play 

 the rest of the game afterwards, D.V. and K.V. 



Hope mother and baby are doing well. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



HonESLEA, Eastbuurne, 

 February 23, 1895, 12.30 p.m. 



My dear Knowles — I have just played and won as 

 hard a match against time as I ever knew in the days of 



