396 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVI 



like, all but the last paragraph. You see I have caved in. 

 I like your asking to have your own way "for once." 

 My wife takes the same line, does whatever she pleases, 

 and then declares I leave her no initiative. 



If I talk of public affairs, I shall simply fall a- 

 blaspheming. I see the Times holds out about Gordon, 

 and does not believe he is killed. Poor fellow ! I wish I 

 could believe that his own conviction (as he told me) is 

 true, and that death only means a larger government 

 for him to administer. Anyhow, it is better to wind up 

 that way than to go growling out one's existence as a 

 ventose hypochondriac, dependent upon the condition of 

 a few square inches of mucous membrane for one's 

 heaven or hell 



As to private affairs, I think I am getting solidly, 

 but very slowly, better. In fact, I can't say there is 

 much the matter with me, except that I am weaker than 

 I ought to be, and that a sort of weary indolence hangs 



about me like a fog. M is wonderfully better, and 



her husband has taken a house for them at Norwood. If 

 I could be rejoiced at anything, I should be at that ; 

 but it seems to me as if since that awful journey when I 

 first left England, "the springs was broke," as that 

 vagabond tout said at Naples. 



It has turned very cold here, and we are uncertain 

 when to leave for Florence, but probably next week. 

 The Carnival is the most entirely childish bosh I have 

 ever met with among grown people. Want to finish this 

 now for post, but will write again speedily. Moseley's 

 proposition is entirely to my mind, and I have often 

 talked of it. The R.S. rooms ought to be house-of-call 

 and quasi-club for all F.RS. in London. 



Wife is bonny, barring a cold. It is as much as I can 

 do to prevent her sporting a mask and domino ! 



With best love Ever yours, 



T. H. H. 



