110 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. IV 



have never been so much thrown together with him 

 alone, and have not had the opportunity of making 

 him out. 



You are a fatherly old bachelor, and will not think 

 me a particularly great donkey for prattling on in this 

 way about my swan, who probably to unprejudiced eyes 

 has a power of goose about him. 



I suppose you know that in company with yourself 

 and Hooker, the paternal gander (T. H. H.) has been 

 honoured by the King of Sweden and made into a Polar 

 Goose by the order of the North Star. Hooker has 

 explained to the Swedish Ambassador that English 

 officials are prohibited by order in Council from accepting 

 foreign orders, and I believe keeps the cross and ribbon 

 on these conditions. If it were an ordinary decoration I 

 should decline with thanks, but I am told it is a purely 

 scientific and literary affair like the Prussian " pour le 

 me'rite " ; so when I get back I shall follow Hooker's line. 



I met Laugel on board the Luzerne steamboat the 

 other day, and he told me that you were at the Belalp 

 gallivanting as usual, and likely to remain there for some 

 time. So I send this on the chance of finding you. With 

 best love from us all, ever yours, T. H. HUXLEY. 



I am as well as I ever was in my life regularly set 

 up in token whereof I have shaved off my beard. 



In another letter to his wife, dated August 8, from 

 Baden, there is a very interesting passage about him- 

 self and his aims. He has just been speaking about 

 his son's doings at school : 



I have been having a great deal of talk with myself 

 about my future career too, and I have often thought over 

 what you say in the letter you wrote to the Puy. I don't 



quite understand what meant about the disputed 



reputation, unless it is a reputation for getting into 



