44 



MY LIFE 



[Chap, 



anecdote of the most varied kind, though also ready for 

 serious talk or discussion ; but in either case, with none of 

 the reserve or somewhat rigid decorum of the majority of our 

 clergy. Mivart visited a good deal in the country houses of 

 the aristocracy and country gentlemen, and he used often to 

 tell me things that happened in some of them, or that were 

 spoken of as common knowledge, which I could not have 

 believed on less direct authority, and which went to prove 

 that some of the worst features of society morals, such as are 

 occasionally revealed in the divorce courts, are by no means 

 uncommon. 



Mivart thoroughly enjoyed a good dinner (as did I myself) 

 and was rather fond of illustrative stories on gastronomic 

 subjects. One that has remained in my memory for its 

 almost pathetic humour was of two friends recalling old times 

 together. "Do you remember," said one, "that splendid 

 dinner we had at Grantham, and how we did enjoy it? " " I 

 do indeed," said his friend, " and it has been a constant 

 regret to me ever since that I did not have a second helping 

 of that magnificent haunch of mutton ! " 



He would also sometimes tell of the incredible doings of 

 some of the fashionable roues among the wealthy, and if I 

 doubted the possibility of such things being true, would 

 appeal to the priests, who would assure me that such things, 

 and worse, did really occur. 



Mivart was a very severe and often an unfair critic of 

 Darwin, and I never concealed my opinion that he was not 

 justified in going so far as he did. I also criticized some of 

 his own writings, but he took it all very good-naturedly, and 

 we always remained excellent friends. Besides natural history 

 we had other tastes in common. He enjoyed country life, 

 and for some time had a small country house in the wilds of 

 Sussex, about midway between Forest Row and Hayward's 

 Heath, where we sometimes spent a few days ; and some 

 years later he built a house on the Duke of Norfolk's estate 

 near Albury, where he had to make a new garden and began 

 to take an interest in horticulture. He was also greatly 

 interested in psychical research and spiritualistic phenomena ; 



