448 LITE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVIII 



a son of hers two or three years ago. I had great difficulty 

 in recollecting anything at all about the matter, but it 

 seems the youngster wanted to go to Africa, and I advised 

 him not to, at anyrate at present. However, the poor 

 fellow went, and died, and they seem to have found a 

 minute account of his interview with me in his diary. 



But all were not of this kind. On the 26th he 

 writes : 



I took a three hours' walk over the moors this morning 

 with nothing but grouse and peewits for company, and it 

 was perfectly delicious. I am beginning to forget that I 

 have a liver, and even feel mildly disposed to the two fools 

 of women between whom I have to sit every meaL 



27<^. . ... I wish you would come here if only 

 for a few days it would do you a world of good after 

 your anxiety and wear and tear for the last week. And 

 you say you are feeling weak. Please come and let me 

 take care of you a bit ; I am sure the lovely air here 

 would set you up. I feel better than I have for 

 months. . . . 



The country is lovely, and in a few days more all the 

 leaves will be out You can almost hear them bursting. 

 Now come down on Saturday and rejoice the " sair een " 

 of your old husband who is wearying for you. 



Another extract from the same correspondence 

 expresses his detestation for a gross breach of con- 

 fidence : 



April 22. . . . I have given Mr. a pretty 



smart setting down for sending me Buskin's letter to 

 him ! It really is iniquitous that such things should be 

 done. Ruskin has a right to say anything he likes in a 



private letter and must be a perfect cad to send it 



on to me. 



