Now I am inclined to think that the job may be well worth doing, in that it will give me the opportunity of emphasising the distinction between the view I hold and Spencer’s, and perhaps of proving that Balfour is an agnostic after my own heart.  So please send the book.

Only if this infernal weather, which shrivels me up soul and body, lasts, I do not know how long I may be over the business.  However, you tell me to take my own time.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

Hodeslea, Eastbourne, February 18, 1895.

My dear Knowles,

I send you by this post an instalment (the larger moiety) of my article, which I should be glad to have set up at once in slip, and sent to me as speedily as may be.  The rest shall follow in the course of the next two or three days.

I am rather pleased with the thing myself, so it is probably not so very good!  But you will judge for yourself.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

Hodeslea, Eastbourne, February 19, 1895.

My dear Knowles,

We send our best congratulations to Mrs. Knowles and yourself on the birth of a grand-daughter.  I forget whether you have had any previous experience of the “Art d’etre Grandpere” or not—­but I can assure you, from 14 such experiences, that it is easy and pleasant of acquirement, and that the objects of it are veritable “articles de luxe,” involving much amusement and no sort of responsibility on the part of the possessor.

You shall have the rest of my screed by to-morrow’s post.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

Hodeslea, Eastbourne, February 20, 1895.

My dear Knowles,

Seven mortal hours have I been hard at work this day to try to keep my promise to you, and as I find that impossible, I have struck work and will see Balfour and his “Foundations”, and even that ark of literature the “Nineteenth”, at Ballywack, before I do any more.

But the whole affair shall be sent by a morning’s post to-morrow.  I have the proofs.  I have found the thing getting too long for one paper, and requiring far more care than I could put into the next two days—­so I propose to divide it, if you see no objection.

And there is another reason for this course.  Influenza is raging here.  I hear of hundreds of cases, and if it comes my way, as it did before, I go to bed and stop there—­“the world forgetting and by the world forgot”—­until I am killed or cured.  So you would not get your article.

As it stands, it is not a bad gambit.  We will play the rest of the game afterwards, D.V. and K.V.

Hope mother and baby are doing well.

Ever yours,

T.H.  Huxley.

Hodeslea, Eastbourne, February 23, 1895, 12.30 P.M.

My dear Knowles,