334: LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVII 



of this month I shall not be here for six weeks. Ever 

 yours faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



October shows an unusual entry in his diary ; the 

 sacrifice of a working evening to hear Jenny Lind 

 sing. Fond though he was of music, as those may 

 remember who ever watched his face at the Sunday 

 evening gatherings in Marlborough Place in the later 

 seventies, when there was sure to be at least a little 

 good music or singing either from his daughters or 

 some of the guests, he seldom could spare the time 

 for concert-going or theatre-going, and the occasional 

 notes of his bachelor days, "to the opera with 

 Spencer," had ceased as his necessary occupations 

 grew more engrossing. 



This year his friend Hooker moved to Kew to act 

 as second in command to his father, Sir William 

 Hooker, the director of the Botanical Gardens. This 

 move made meetings between the two friends, except 

 at clubs and societies, more difficult, and was one of 

 the immediate causes of the foundation of the x Club. 

 It is this move which is referred to in the following 

 letters ; the " poor client " being the wife of an old 

 messmate of his on the Rattlesnake : 



JERMYN STREET, Nov. 17. 



MY DEAR HOOKER My wife wrote to yours yesterday, 

 the enclosed note explaining the kitchen-revolution which, 

 it seems, must delay our meeting. When she had done, 

 however, she did not know where to direct it, and I am 

 no wiser, so I send it to you. 



It's a horrid nuisance and I have sworn a few, but 



