134 GEORGE JOHN ROMANES issi- 



and had the most delightful way of offering his guests 

 books to take to bed with them. In fact, Down was 

 one of the few houses in which readable books adorned 

 the guest-chambers. 



It came out on this occasion that Mr. Darwin had 

 an especial love for the books written by the author 

 of ' Mademoiselle Mori.' He offered one of his guests 

 ' Denise,' saying it was his favourite tale, or words to 

 that effect. 



Down was indeed one of the most delightful of 

 houses in which to stay, and that snowy January 

 Sunday of 1881 was a very real red letter day. 



To Miss C. E. Romanes. 



18 Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W. : July 24, 1881. 



My dearest Charlotte, — There have been no letters 

 from you for two days, so I have nothing to answer. 



I did not write yesterday because we were spend- 

 ing the day with Mr. Teesdale, in his house at Down, 

 and did not get back again till past the post hour. 

 We went over to pay a call upon Darwin. He and 

 his wife were at home, and as kind and glad to see us 

 as possible. The servant gave our names wrongly to 

 them, and they thought we were a very old couple 

 whom they know, called Norman. So old Darwin came 

 in with a huge canister of snuff under his arm — old 

 Norman being very partial to this luxury — and looked 

 very much astonished at finding us. He was as 

 grand and good and bright as ever. 



In to-day's ' Times' you will see a letter by 'F.E.S.' 

 which is worth reading, as are all the productions of 

 his able pen. 



