HOME LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE. 347 



it several times, and a friend of mine dare not read it aloud 

 because it is so painfully touching that he could not command 

 his voice. 



Warren's Hotel, Kilkee, July 18, 1863. 

 We arrived here last night from Limerick. Our party 

 consists of Mr. and Miss Ward, Mr. Snell, " Enid," and self = 

 five. " Triandriadigynia " = the grasses, according to Linnaeus. 

 We get on very pleasantly, as all have pretty fair tempers, and 

 are willing to yield in turn. Our united ages are 274 years, as 

 well as I can count — but under correction from Bishop Colenso. 

 Nevertheless, as is not often the case, the eldest is perhaps the 

 greenest and freshest of the party. I need not say that I don't 

 speak of myself. . . . This is a stupid scrawl, written on my 

 knee at half light, but it goes to say we do not forget you, and 

 that we hope you are on the mend since Mr. Paget came to the 

 rescue. 



Yours affectionately, 



" The 5th part of 274." 



To the Same. 

 3 Pery Square, Limerick, August 24, 1863. 

 I do not know whether there be such a word as "con-soeur " 

 (though there be connoisseur, and perhaps that will do as well 

 and be as appropriate), so, ma chere connoisseur, thank you for 

 your letter of the 20th, and especially for the two cartes 

 enclosed therein. Perhaps you had got Kingsley's notice 



before sitting ; tell , though his praise may not be that of 



an advanced phycologist, still I should value it more than the 

 criticism of the nameless one in the " Athenaeum," who evi- 

 dently knows less of what he is talking of. Have you not read 

 the " Water Babies ?" We are quite charmed with it. It is to 

 me as a dream ; as one feels a dream one's self while dreaming. 

 Of course 'tis an allegory, but what is the interpretation 

 thereof ? I don't know that I am right, but I can see at least 

 two meanings or under-springs of interpretation. If we take 

 the stream into which Tom plunged when " he would be 

 clean " for the waters of baptism, you may read the book 

 with one set of interpretations, and 'twill do very nicely. If, 

 on the other hand, Tom was drowned in the stream, why the 



