322 GEOEGE JOHN ROMANES i893 



of Eeligion,' and other philosophical books, and he 

 also plunged into poetry, reading Wordsworth chiefly. 



In December came what seemed to be a severe 

 gastric attack, with other alarming sjrmptoms, and for 

 a few hours he seemed to be djdng. But this passed 

 off, and although he was kept in bed for three weeks 

 he grew better, and in some ways there seemed 

 grounds for fresh hope. 



For a few days in January he was under the care 

 of a cousin with two trained nurses, and his letters 

 home were surprisingly bright. 



His wife's maid, of whom he was very fond, was 

 terribly ill in January, and he writes : 



Grive Jane my love, and tell her I never forget 

 how good she was to me when I thought I was dying 

 in her arms at Boar's Hill. 



And again he wrote : 



So glad to hear the operation has been successful. 

 Congratulate her from me. Tell her I heartily wish 

 I were in her place as to this, but that neverthe- 

 less I have not 'lost heart.' I am now certainly 

 stronger, and if I could only submit my cranial cavity 

 to Tom's ^ hands for removal of anything disagree- 

 able, I should be comparatively joyful. 



T-he weather is glorious. Marian is at mass, 

 having read me one of Church's sermons. 



Please tell John to send me a couple of hundred 

 cigarettes (to prevent influenza ! ). 



When you come out you will not find me a kill- 

 joy ; the danger will rather be that of my scandahsing 

 you all by riotous conduct on Sunday. 



' Mr. G. B. Turner, F.R.C.S., one of Mr. Eomanes's dearest friends ; as 

 was also his brother, Mr. E. B. Tiu-ner, F.E.C.S. 



