402 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxvi 



as soon as he began to work again in London, his old enemy 

 returned. Early hours, the avoidance of society and soci- 

 eties, an hour's riding before starting at nine for South 

 Kensington, were all useless ; the whole year was poisoned 

 until a special diet prescribed by Dr. (afterwards Sir) An- 

 drew Clark, followed by another trip abroad, effected a cure. 

 I remember his saying once that he learned by sad ex- 

 perience that such a holiday as that in Egypt was no good 

 for him. What he really required was mountain air and 

 plenty of exercise. The following letters fill up the outline 

 of this period : — 



26 Abbey Place, May 20, 1872. 



My dear Dohrn — I suppose that you are now back in 

 Naples, perambulating the Chiaja, and looking ruefully on the 

 accumulation of ashes on the foundations of the aquarium ! 

 The papers, at any rate, tell us that the ashes of Vesuvius have 

 fallen abundantly at Naples. Moreover, that abominable 

 municipality is sure to have made the eruption an excuse for 

 all sorts of delays. May the gods give you an extra share of 

 temper and patience ! 



What an unlucky dog our poor Ray is, to go and get fever 

 when of all times in the world's history he should not have had 

 it. However, I hear he is better and on his way home. I hope 

 he will be well enough when he returns not only to get his 

 Fellowship, but to help me in my schoolmaster work in June 

 and July. 



I was greatly disgusted to miss you in Naples, but it was 

 something to find your father instead. What a vigorous, genial 

 youngster of three score and ten he is. I declare I felt quite 

 aged beside him. We had a glorious day on Vesuvius, and be- 

 haved very badly by leaving him at the inn for I do not know 

 how many hours, while we wandered about the cone. But he 

 had a very charming young lady for companion, and possibly 

 had the best of it. I am very sorry that at the last I went off 

 in a hurry without saying " Good-bye " to him, but I desired 

 Lankester to explain, and I am sure he will have sympathised 

 with my anxiety to see Rome. 



I returned, thinking myself very well, but a bad fit of dys- 

 pepsia seized me, and I found myself obliged to be very idle 

 and very careful of myself — neither of which things are to my 

 taste. But I am right again now, and hope to have no more 

 backslidings. However, I am afraid I may not be able to attend 



