250 HERSCHEL AND HIS WORK 



me some weeks ago that the Times contained the same 

 report, to which I replied, ' It is a lie ! ' but what I 

 heard from Dr. Tias to-day makes me almost believe it 

 possible. Ja ! if I was thirty or forty years younger, 

 and could go too ? In Gottes nahmen ! But I will 

 not think about it till you yourself tell me more of it, 

 for I have enough to think of my cramps, blindness, 

 sleepless nights, etc." She was a wonderful " little old 

 woman." Pointed at on the street, honoured by the 

 Palace, and saluted with profoundest respect at theatre 

 or concert, she wrote, " Next to listening to the con- 

 versation of learned men, I like to hear about them, 

 but I find myself, unfortunately, among beings who 

 like nothing but smoking, big talk on politics, wars and 

 such like things." Her indignation flamed up as fiercely 

 when she was ninety years of age as it used to do when 

 she was twenty, especially at anyone who took her 

 for what she was not, weak of will or understanding. 

 " Thank God, I have yet sense enough left to caution 

 you against being imposed upon by a stupid being, 

 who would make you believe I died under obligations 

 to any of the family. I know he has already, without 

 asking my leave, passed himself off for my guardian, 

 and is vexed at my being able to do without him. 

 But I could not live without that little business of 

 keeping my accounts ; and by my last book of expenses 

 and receipts may be seen, that I owe nothing to any 

 body, but to my dear nephew many many thanks for 

 fulfilling his father's wishes, by paying for so many 

 years the ample annuity he left me." What a brave 

 little old woman she was ! Nobody but herself was at 

 liberty to call her "an old poor sick creature in her 

 dotage." 



