Alfred Russel Wallace 



with some object, such as finding a bee-orchis or a rare 

 plant, or exploring a new part of the country, or finding 

 a waterfall. 



In 1876 we went to live at Dorking, but stayed there 

 only a year or two. An instance of his love of mystifying 

 us children may be given. It must have been shortly after 

 our arrival at Dorking that one day, having been out to 

 explore the neighbourhood, he returned about tea-time and 

 said, '^ Where do you think I have been? To Glory!" 

 Of course we were very properly excited, and plied him 

 with questions, but we got nothing more out of him then. 

 Later on we were taken to see the wonderful place called 

 ** Glory Wood " ; and it had surely gained in glory by such 

 preparation. 



Sometimes it would happen that a scene or object 

 would recall an incident in his tropical wanderings and 

 he would tell us of the sights he had seen. At the time 

 he was greatly interested in botany, in which he was 

 encouraged by our mother, who was an ardent lover of 

 flowers; and to the end of his life he exhibited almost 

 boyish delight when he discovered a rare plant. Many 

 walks and excursions were taken for the purpose of seeing 

 some uncommon plant growing in its natural habitat. 

 When he had found the object of his search we were all 

 called to see it. During his walks and holidays he made 

 constant use of the one-inch Ordnance Maps, which he 

 obtained for each district he visited, planning out our ex- 

 cursions on the map before starting. He had a gift for 

 finding the most beautiful walks by means of it. 



In 1878 we moved to Croydon, where we lived about four 

 years. It was at this time that he hoped to get the post of 

 Superintendent of Epping Forest. We still remember all 

 the delights we children were promised if we went to live 

 there. We ha<i a day's excursion to see the Forest, he with 



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