420 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XXI 



it was really very unnecessary to thank us for trying to 

 make your brief visit a pleasant one. Your conscience 

 must be more " pungent " than your talk, if it pricks you 

 with so little cause. My wife rejoices saucily to find 

 that phrase of hers has stuck so strongly in your mind, 

 but you must remember her fondness for " Tusch." 



You must certainly marry. In my bachelor days, it 

 was unsafe for anyone to approach me before mid-day, 

 and for all intellectual purposes I was barren till the 

 evening. Breakfast at six would have upset me for 

 the day. You and the lobster noted the difference the 

 other day. 



Whether it is matrimony or whether it is middle age 

 I don't know, but as time goes on you can combine both. 



I cannot but accept your kind offer to send me Fanny 

 Lewald's works, though it is a shame to rob you of them. 

 In return my wife insists on your studying a copy of 

 Tennyson, which we shall send you as soon as we return 

 to civilisation, which will be next Friday. If you are in 

 London after that date, we shall hope to see you once 

 more before you return to the bosom of the " Father- 

 land." 



I did my best to give the children your message, but 

 I fear I failed ignominiously in giving the proper bovine 

 vocalisation to " Mroo." 



That small curly-headed boy Harry, struck, I suppose 

 by the kindness you both show to children, has effected 

 a synthesis between you and Tyndall, and gravely observed 

 the other day, " Doctor Dohrn-Tyndall do say Mroo." 



My wife sends her kind regards. The " seven " 

 are not here or they would vote love by acclamation. 

 Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



He did not this year attend the British Associa- 

 tion, which was held in Dundee. This was the first 

 occasion on which an evening was devoted to a 



