318 LETTERS TO PROFESSOR WALLACE [CHAP. xxvi. 



March i, 1901. 



This is very kind of you, and if you are very much 

 shocked at my explicitness please consider yourself an 

 extra nephew, M.D. for the occasion, and put this in the 

 fire. 



I have had a kidney attack. I believe something 

 " gouty" (?) has been wrong for weeks, but I had not 

 asked the doctor until such pain set in that there were no 

 two ways about it, I had to go to bed ; and he put me 

 on a " course" (of alkalis, I believe) to get out the enemy. 

 Of course this was very weakening, but I was soon up 

 and really absolutely, 1 believe that if it were not for a 

 nasty barking cough very tiresome by day, and more 

 so by night I should be much as usual. I should be 

 grievously disappointed if you did not come for any reason 

 connected with me. Speaking very selfishly, and besides 

 all the good the pleasure of one of your visits does me, I 

 do not feel as if I could settle comfortably until I have the 

 benefit of your sound and skilled advice about how to re- 

 arrange my entomological work. 



" Reminiscences" are in enough trim to show you some- 

 thing of even now. 1 



March 2, 1901. 



I am so sorry regarding what I am writing that I hardly 

 know how to put it, but I find to-day I am so much 

 pulled down that I am obliged to tell you. It would be a 

 sad disappointment to me if I did not see you, but my nights 

 are so bad from this cough that I cannot depend on not 

 having to ring to call Miss Hartwell to attend to me, and 

 this makes a great commotion. I believe, as I wrote you 

 yesterday, that the illness (as well as the pain) has gone, 

 but it is the cough which has been keeping me pulled down, 

 more than I knew. 



March 4, 1901. 



Indeed, you are quite too kind and good to me, and now 

 I want to say that my doctor says he does not see any 

 reason why I should not be able to enjoy your visit on 

 Sunday next without any difficulty or risk whatsoever. If 

 it was convenient to you, would the train suit that would 

 bring you to St. Albans about a quarter before n from St. 



1 On this date a note of instructions was left to Miss Ormerod's 

 trustees to deliver to us the " Reminiscences " papers, &c. The end of 

 the note is as follows : 



" And I request Professor Wallace, being a friend in whom I feel 

 complete confidence, to accept the above, and use or not use them for 

 the purpose precisely as in his good discretion he may think fit." 



