CHAPTER XIV 

 1889 



The events to be chronicled in this year are, as might 

 be expected, either domestic or literary. The letters are 

 full of allusions to his long controversy in defence of Agnos- 

 ticism, mainly with Dr. Wace, who had declared the use of 

 the name to be a " mere evasion " on the part of those 

 who ought to be dubbed infidels ; to the building of the 

 new house at Eastbourne, and to the marriage in quick 

 succession of his two youngest daughters, whereby, indeed, 

 the giving up of the house in London and definite departure 

 from London was made possible. 



All the early part of the year, till he found it necessary 

 to go to Switzerland again, he stayed unwillingly in East- 

 bourne, from time to time running up to town, or having 

 son or daughter to stay with him for a week, his wife being 

 too busy to leave town, with the double preparations for 

 the weddings on hand, so that he writes to her : " I feel 

 worse than the ' cowardly agnostic ' I am said to be — for 

 leaving you to face your botherations alone." One can 

 picture him still firm of tread, with grizzled head a little 

 stooped from his square shoulders, pacing the sea wall with 

 long strides, or renewing somewhat of his strength as it 

 again began to fail, in the keener air of the downs, warmly 

 defended against chill by a big cap — for he had been suffer- 

 ing from his ears — and a long rough coat. He writes 

 (February 22) : " I have bought a cap with flaps to pro- 

 tect my ears. I look more ' doggy ' than ever." And on 

 March 3 : — 

 23d 



