388 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XIX 



am just back from seven weeks' idleness at Littlehampton 

 with my wife and children, the first time I have had a 

 holiday of any extent with them for years. 



We are all nourishing the babies particularly so 

 and I find myself rather loth to begin grinding at the 

 mill again. There is a vein of laziness in me which crops 

 out uncommonly strong in your godson, who is about the 

 idlest, jolliest young four-year-old I know. 



You will have been as much grieved as I have been 

 about dear old Hooker. According to the last accounts, 

 however, he is mending, and I hope to see him in the 

 pristine vigour again before long. 



My wife has gone to bed or she would join me in the 

 kindest regards and remembrances to Mrs. Darwin and 

 your family. Ever yours faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



The sound judgment and nice sense of honour 

 for which Huxley was known among his friends often 

 led those who were in difficulties to appeal to him 

 for advice. About this time a dispute arose over an 

 alleged case of unacknowledged " conveyance " of 

 information. Writing to Hooker, he says the one 

 party to the quarrel failed to "set the affair straight 

 with half a dozen words of frank explanation as he 

 might have done ; " as to the other, " like all quiet 

 and mild men who do get a grievance, he became 

 about twice as ' wud ' as Berserks like you and me." 

 Both came to him, so that he says, " I have found 

 it very difficult to deal honestly with both sides 

 without betraying the confidence of either or making 

 matters worse." Happily, with his help, matters 

 reached a peaceful solution, and his final comment 

 is 



