264 WORK AT CAMBRIDGE 



two lame legs, was a toilsome business and involved 

 much exertion in hoisting himself out of the chair and 

 returning to it again, but he resented assistance in such 

 things. A stranger, unaccustomed to his ways, who 

 ventured to offer him a lighted spill, was rewarded with 

 a piercing glance and — " You're very good (a favourite 

 phrase of his), but I can help myself." 



Between nine o'clock and midnight the cracked 

 door-bell would ring at intervals, and from half a dozen 

 to twenty visitors would come to see the Professor : 

 undergraduates and dons, old Cambridge men, travellers, 

 men of all ages and conditions. Conversation was 

 general, and though it was often of a scientific kind, 

 it was by no means so always. The Professor delighted 

 in humorous stories, which he often told exceedingly 

 well, and he had an abundant store of reminiscences of 

 people. Like many men of respectable stock he had a 

 high appreciation of " family," and he often knew more 

 of his visitors' family histories than they knew them- 

 selves. As somebody said, all genealogists are related 

 to each other. 



If he liked successful and distinguished people^ he 

 was equally glad to see those who had not yet made 

 their mark in the world and to help them, if it were in 

 his power to do so. When sons or relations of any of 

 his old friends came up to the University, he was at 

 pains to seek them out, and he was genuinely dis- 

 appointed if they did not come to see him. 



I feel inclined to quarrel with you for not having 

 put me in the way of knowing " young Candler." He 

 came to my rooms on Sunday night, brought by a 

 young Jesse, son of the Abyssinian man, who has been 

 equally culpable in not letting me know sooner of his 

 existence. Candler seems a very good sort of fellow 

 indeed. I hope he liked his evening and will let me see 



