68 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, iv 



but fascinating " * parent. I clean forgot you were going to 

 leave this peaceful village for the whirl of Gloucester dissipa- 

 tion this morning— and the traces of weeping on your visage, 

 which should have reminded me of our imminent parting, were 

 absent. 



My dear, I should like to have given you some good coun- 

 sel. You are but a simple village maiden — don't be taken 

 by the appearance of anybody. Consult your father — inclos- 

 ing photograph and measurement (in inches) — in any case of 

 difficulty. 



Also give my love to the matron your sister, and tell her to 

 look sharp after you. Treat her with more respect than you do 

 your venerable P. — whose life will be gloom hidden by a film 

 of heartless jests till you return. 



Item. — Kisses to Ria and Co. — Your desolated Pater. 



To his Eldest Daughter 



4 Marlborough Place, May 6, 1883. 



Dearest Jess — Best thanks for your good wishes — consider- 

 ing all things I am a hale old gentleman. But I had to speak 

 last night at the Academy dinner, and either that or the quantity 

 of cigars I smoked, following the bad example of our friend 

 " Wales," has left me rather shaky to-day. It was trying, be- 

 cause Jack's capital portrait was hanging just behind me — and 

 somebody remarked that it was a better likeness of me than I 

 was. If you begin to think of that it is rather confusing. 



I am grieved to have such accounts of Ethel, and have lec- 

 tured her accordingly. She threatens reprisals on you — and 

 altogether is in a more saucy and irrepressible state than when 

 she left. 



M — is still in bed, though better — I am afraid she won't 

 be able to go to Court next week. You see we are getting 

 grand. 



I hear great accounts of the children (Ria and Buzzer) and 

 mean to cut out T'other Governor when you bring them up. 



As we did not see Fred the other day, the family is inclined 

 to think that the salmon disagreed with him ! — Ever your loving 

 father, T. H. Huxley. 



* A fragment of feminine conversation overheard at the Dublin 

 meeting of the British Association, 1878. "Oh, there comes Pro- 

 fessor Huxley : faded, but still fascinating." 



