1886 AT ILKLEY jjg 



unknown, and he was sometimes touched, more often bored, 

 by the forms which this recognition took. Thus two days 

 after his arrival he writes home : — 



Sitting opposite to me at the table d'hote here is a nice old 

 Scotch lady. People have found out my name here by this time, 

 and yesterday she introduced herself to me, and expressed great 

 gratitude for the advice I gave to a son of hers two or three 

 years ago. I had great difficulty in recollecting anything at all 

 about the matter, but it seems the youngster wanted to go to 

 Africa, and I advised him not to, at anyrate at present. How- 

 ever, the poor fellow went, and died, and they seem to have 

 found a minute account of his interview with me in his diary. 



But all were not of this kind. On the 26th he 

 writes : — ■ 



I took a three hours' walk over the moors this morning with 

 nothing but grouse and peewits for company, and it was per- 

 fectly delicious. I am beginning to forget that I have a liver, 

 and even feel mildly disposed to the two fools of women between 

 whom I have to sit every meal. 



2Jth. — ... I wish you would come here if only for a few 

 days — it would do you a world of good after your anxiety and 

 wear and tear for the last week. And you say you are feeling 

 weak. Please come and let me take care of you a bit; I am 

 sure the lovely air here would set you up. I feel better than I 

 have for months. . . . 



The country is lovely, and in a few days more all the leaves 

 will be out. You can almost hear them bursting. Now come 

 down on Saturday and rejoice the " sair een " of your old hus- 

 band who is wearying for you. 



Another extract from the same correspondence expresses 

 his detestation for a gross breach of confidence : — 



April 22. — ... I have given Mr. a pretty smart set- 

 ting down for sending me Ruskin's letter to him ! It really is 

 iniquitous that such things should be done. Ruskin has a right 



to say anything he likes in a private letter, and must be a 



perfect cad to send it on to me. 



The following letter on the ideal of a Paleontological 

 Museum is a specialised and improved version of his earlier 

 schemes on the same subject : — - 



