408 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. XIII. 



little way along its wooded banks, pointing out where 

 the stepping-stones used to be, where he bathed when 

 a boy, and where the exploit of tub -navigation had 

 been performed. This was the longest walk he had 

 taken for some time. He was unable to drive with 

 them in the afternoon, because he could not bear the 

 shaking of the carriage. 



On the 2d of October 1879, in the midst of great 

 weakness and of great pain, he was told by the late 

 Dr. Sanders of Edinburgh, who had been summoned 

 to Glenlair, that he had not a month to live. From 

 that moment he had only one anxiety, the same which 

 had for so long been his chief care to provide for 

 her comfort, whom he now saw that he must leave 

 behind. 



He returned to Cambridge ; but he was so weak as 

 to be hardly able to walk from the train to a carriage. 

 Under the diligent care of Dr. Paget his most pain- 

 ful symptoms were considerably relieved, and his 

 friends began to entertain fond hopes of his recovery. 

 But his strength gradually failed, and at length it was 

 evident to all that the disease could not be stayed. 



During the last few weeks his sufferings were very 

 great, but he seldom mentioned them; and, apart 

 from his anxiety for others, his mind was absolutely 

 calm. The one thought which weighed upon him, 

 and to which he constantly referred, was for the 

 future welfare and comfort of Mrs. Maxwell. During 

 the whole period of their married life (twenty-one 

 years) his ever-present watchfulness and sympathy 

 had supported her even in the smallest domestic 



