1865-68 LETTER FROM TENNYSON 163 



heard of such a word, but if there be such, it may 

 be a moot point whether you laid the accent on 

 the first syllable or on the one before the last ; for 

 there is a word " embryonate" (being in the state 

 of an embryo), which I find accented on the first. 

 " Embryonal " would be certainly wrong ; but ex- 

 cept you really want the two words for some 

 scientific distinction, it would be better to stick to 

 " embryonic." 



' I and my wife too are grieved to hear that 

 you have overtasked your muscular powers in 

 your Highland holiday. Pray, for your own and 

 your friends' sake, obey your doctors (you can 

 scarce have a better or a kindlier than Paget), and 

 cease to work for awhile that you may work better 

 hereafter. We cannot afford to lose your brains 

 — not at least till all our lizards are dug out, and 

 this stretch of red cliff which I see from my attic 

 windows no longer needs such an interpreter. 

 ' Believe me, 



' Ever truly yours, 



' A. Tennyson.' 



On October 18 Owen writes to his sisters : 

 ' My doctors — Paget and Farre — were with us, 

 dining on Sunday, and considered me convalescent. 

 I have had no particular ailment, but a general 

 loss of muscular power, rather more in my arms 

 than legs, with loss of appetite. This has come 

 back, and so, I trust, shortly all my old strength. 



M 2 



