196 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ch. 



simple man of science, Mr. Darwin, whom he 

 had the rare fortune to find at his very gates. 



Under this uncommon combination of cir- 

 cumstances the boy became a man really before 

 due time, and the character then formed remained 

 serenely steadfast and unshaken until the very 

 last. He kept his youthful and, in respect of 

 its simplicity, his almost childlike outlook un- 

 impaired, and was scarcely less mentally alert 

 in the last years than in the very springtide of 

 his days. Changing his pursuits and interest 

 with an easy versatility which was a perpetual 

 surprise, he applied the same method of per- 

 sistent industry, and the same spirit of steadfast 

 cheerfulness to each in turn. His walk had not 

 lost its elasticity. Apart from his greyish hair 

 and beard, his face had a young freshness, and 

 the charming kindliness of his expression became 

 even more marked as the years passed serenely 

 over him. 



On January 6 they went for a few days to 

 Kingsgate, returning to London on the 18th, 

 and on the 19th gave a ball at their St. James's 

 Square house. The youngest daughter, Irene, 

 now Mrs. Pelham, was just coming out. 



On February 1 he notes : " Free Food meeting. 

 Dined at Londonderry's — then to Lansdowne 

 House — Irene's first party. Much talk with the 

 Duke of Argyll, Duke of Bedford, and Camper- 

 down about Fiscal Policy and the Liberal Union 

 Association. Also with Chamberlain on Fiscal 

 Policy. He is very confident the Colonies would 

 meet us halfway. I see no reason to think so." 

 On the 5th he writes again : " Had a long 



