370 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxi 



To his Youngest Daughter 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, Jan. 8, 1893. 



I wish you would write seriously to M . She is not 



behaving well to Oliver. I have seen handsomer kittens, but 

 few more lively, and energetically destructive. Just now he 



scratched away at something that M says cost 13s. 6d. a 



yard — and reduced more or less of it to combings. 



M therefore excludes him from the dining-room, and all 



those opportunities of higher education which he would natu- 

 rally have in my house. 



I have argued that it is as immoral to place 13s. 6d. a yard- 

 nesses within reach of kittens as to hang bracelets and diamond 

 rings in the front garden. But in vain. Oliver is banished — 

 and the protector (not Oliver) is sat upon. — In truth and justice 

 aid your Pa. 



[This letter is embellished with fancy portraits of 



Oliver when most quiescent (tail up; ready for action). 

 O. as polisher (tearing at the table leg). 

 O. as plate basket investigator. 

 O. as gardener (destroying plants in a pot). 

 O. as stocking knitter (a wild tangle of cat and wool). 

 O. as political economist making good for trade at 13s. 6d. a 

 yard (pulling at a hassock).] 



The following to Sir John Evans refers to a piece of 

 temporary forgetfulness. 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, March 19, 1893. 

 My dear Evans — It is curious what a difference there is 

 between intentions and acts, especially in the matter of sending 

 cheques. The moment I saw the project of the Lawes and Gil- 

 bert testimonial in the Times, I sent my contribution in imagina- 

 tion — and it is only the arrival of this circular which has waked 

 me up to the necessity of supplementing my ideal cheque by the 

 real one inclosed. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Reference has been made to the writing of the Romanes 

 Lecture in 1892. Mr. Gladstone had already consented 

 to deliver the first lecture in that year; and early in the 

 summer Professor Romanes sounded Huxley to find out 



