1878 VISIT FROM PROFESSOR MARSH 529 



But with relief from this heavy strain, his spirits instantly 

 revived, and he writes to Tyndall. 



4 Marlborough Place, May 20, 1878. 



My dear Tyndall — I wrote you a most downhearted letter 

 this morning about Madge, and not without reason. But having 

 been away four hours, I come home to find a wonderful and 

 blessed change. The fever has abated and she is looking like 

 herself. If she could only make herself heard, I should have 

 some sauciness. I see it in her eyes. 



If you will be so kind as to kiss everybody you meet on my 

 account it will be a satisfaction to me. You may begin with 

 Mrs. Tyndall !— Ever yours, T. H. Huxley. 



Professor Marsh, with whom Huxley had stayed at Yale 

 College in 1876, paid his promised visit to England imme- 

 diately after this. 



4 Marlborough Place, N.W., 

 June 24, 1878. (Evening.) 



My dear Marsh — Welcome to England ! I am delighted to 

 hear of your arrival — but the news has only just reached me, as 

 I have been away since Saturday with my wife and sick daugh- 

 ter who are at the seaside. A great deal has happened to us in 

 the last six or seven weeks. My eldest daughter married, and 

 then a week after an invasion of diphtheria, which struck down 

 my eldest son, my youngest daughter, and my eldest remaining 

 daughter all together. Two of the cases were light, but my 

 poor Madge suffered terribly, and for some ten days we were 

 in sickening anxiety about her. She is slowly gaining strength 

 now, and I hope there is no more cause for alarm — but my 

 household is all to pieces — the Lares and Penates gone, and 

 painters and disinfectors in their places. 



You will certainly have to run down to Margate and see my 

 wife — or never expect forgiveness in this world. 



I shall be at the Science Schools, South Kensington, to- 

 morrow till four — and if I do not see you before that time I 

 shall come and look you up at the Palace Hotel. — I am, yours 

 very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



" Is it not provoking," he writes to his wife, " that we 

 should all be dislocated when I should have been so glad to 

 show him a little attention ? " Still, apart from this week- 



