272 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 1890 



connection with ' the House ' was a great pleasure to 

 him. 



For a little while during the early summer of 1890 

 Mr. Eomanes was alone in Oxford, and he writes : 



To Mrs. Romanes. 



I called to-day on Mr. Dodgson, to sign my name 

 in the Common Eoom, and signed my name in the 

 book where the signatures go back to the foundation 

 of the House. It is certainly the best thing I could 

 have done to join Christ Church, and I am enjoying 

 this return to my undergraduate days as something 

 quite novel. Yesterday Liddon 1 graced the high table 

 with his company. He was particularly gracious to 

 me, remembering all about our meeting years ago, 

 and hoping to be allowed to have the pleasure of call- 

 ing upon us when we were settled in the ' almshouse.' 2 

 After dinner in the Common Eoom, seeing that the 

 party was both elderly and reverend, all the other six 

 being parsons, I started what seemed to me a suit- 

 able game, viz. who could best ' card wool ' in oppo- 

 site directions, or turn the right hand round and 

 round one way, while at the same time turning the 

 left hand round and round the other way. This inno- 

 cent occupation at once became very popular — the 

 Canon in particular being greatly interested in the 

 peculiar difficulty which it presents. For my own 

 part, I much enjoyed the spectacle of all these dons 

 winding their hands about, and this enjoyment 



1 Dr. Liddon died in September 1890. 



2 The house which Mr. Romanes had taken was originally an alms- 

 house. 



