368 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XV 



you without such, support as I can give in the School. 



No one knows better than I do how completely it is your 



work and how gallantly you have borne the trouble and 



responsibility connected with it. But what am I to do ? 



I must give up all or nothing and I shall certainly come 



to grief if I do not have a long rest. 



Pray tell me what you think about it all 



My wife has written to Mrs. Donnelly and told her 



the news. Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



Read Hobbes if you want to get hard sense in good 

 English. 



HlGHCROFT HOUSE, MlLFORD, GODALMING, 

 Sept. 10, 1884. 



MY DEAR DONNELLY Many thanks for your kind 

 letter. I feel rather like a deserter, and am glad of any 

 crumbs of comfort. 



Cartwright has done wonders for me, and I can already 

 eat most things (I draw the line at tough crusts). I have 

 not even my old enemy, dyspepsia but eat, drink, and 

 sleep like a top. 



And withal I am as tired as if I were hard at work, 

 and shirk walking. 



So far as I can make out there is not the slightest sign 

 of organic disease anywhere, but I will get Clark to over- 

 haul me when I go back to town. Sometimes I am 

 inclined to suspect that it is all sham and laziness but 

 then why the deuce should I want to sham and be lazy. 



Somebody started a charming theory years ago that 

 as yoxi get older and lose volition, primitive evil tendencies, 

 heretofore mastered, come out and show themselves. A 

 nice prospect for venerable old gentlemen ! 



Perhaps my crust of industry is denuded, and the 

 primitive rock of sloth is cropping out. 



But enough of this egotistical invalidism. 



