404 



LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxii 



HODESLEA, Sept. 22, 1894. 



It's rather a rollicking epistle, I must say, but as my wife 

 (who sends her love) says she thinks she is the only person who 

 has a right to complain (and she does not), I do not know why 

 it should not be published. 



P.S. — I fancy very few people will catch the allusion about 

 not contradicting me. But perhaps it would be better to take 

 the opinion of some impartial judge on that point. 



I do not care the least on my own account, but I see my 

 words might be twisted into meaning that you had told me 

 something about your previous guest, and that I referred to 

 what you had said. 



Of course you had done nothing of the kind, but as a wary 

 old fox, experienced sufferer from the dodges of the misrepre- 

 senter, I feel bound not to let you get into any trouble if I can 

 help it. 



A regular lady's P.S. this. 



P.S. — Letter returned herewith. 



To Mr. Leslie Stephen 



HODESLEA, Oct. 16, 1894. 



My dear Stephen — I am very glad you like to have my 

 omnium gatherum, and think the better of it for gaining me such 

 a pleasant letter of acknowledgment. 



It is a great loss to me to be cut off from all my old friends, 

 but sticking closely to my hermitage, with fresh air and im- 

 mense quantities of rest, have become the conditions of existence 

 for me, and one must put up with them. 



I have not paid all the debt incurred in my Oxford es- 

 capade yet — the last " little bill " being a sharp attack of lum- 

 bago, out of which I hope I have now emerged. But my 

 deafness alone should bar me from decent society. I have 

 not the moral courage to avoid making shots at what people 

 say, so as not to bore them ; and the results are sometimes dis- 

 astrous. 



I don't see there is any real difference between us. You are 

 charitable enough to overlook the general immorality of the 

 cosmos on the score of its having begotten morality in one small 

 part of its domain. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



