280 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ch. 



In many ways he was an ideal patient : he 

 had so many resources that confinement to the 

 house was not nearly so irksome to him as to 

 most active men. His gratitude for any acts of 

 kindness, even the simplest, was most touching, 

 and man never had a more devoted nurse than 

 he in Lady Avebury. Another most faithful 

 and affectionate attendant deserves more than a 

 word of recognition, the old family servant, 

 whom no one ever called by any other name than 

 " Bessie." She had come to them first, from 

 Rushmore, as children's nurse ; and had been 

 with them some twenty-two years. She was far 

 more friend than servant. VHien all was well she 

 was (and is) the pivot about which the household 

 management turned, and in all accidents and 

 trouble, from a child's cut finger to the most 

 serious illness, it was to " Bessie " that applica- 

 tion was made, both as the first and the last 

 resort. 



Maurice Lubbock, the youngest son, was at 

 Mr. Price's school at Broadstairs, only a mile or 

 two from Kingsgate. Occasionally Lord Ave- 

 bury would ask the whole school to the Castle, 

 where he would show them marvels through the 

 microscope, and talk to them in a way that 

 delighted them. " Isn't he jolly to us ? " one 

 of the boys said to Mr. Price as they went home 

 from one such entertainment. No doubt tea, 

 with good things to eat, made an important part 

 of it all, but they keenly enjoyed Lord Avebury 's 

 company and talk, and it was an enjoyment 

 which was quite mutual. Children always 

 amused him. One of the boys, after looking 



