But what ingrained liars they all are!  That is the bottom of all Irish trouble.  Fancy Healy and Sexton going to Dublin to swear eternal fidelity to their leader, and now openly declaring that they only did so because they believed he would resign.

Ever yours affectionately,

T.H.  Huxley.

Hodeslea, January 10, 1891.

My dear Foster,

I am trying to bring the Booth business to an end so far as I am concerned, but it’s like getting a wolf by the ears; you can’t let him go exactly when you like.

But the result is quite worth the trouble.  Booth, Stead, Tillett,
Manning and Co. have their little game spoilt for the present.

You cannot imagine the quantity of letters I get from the Salvation Army subordinates, thanking me and telling me all sorts of stories in strict confidence.  The poor devils are frightened out of their lives by headquarter spies.  Some beg me not to reply, as their letters are opened.

I knew that saints were not bad hands at lying before; but these Booth people beat Banagher.

Then there is —­ awaits skinning, and I believe the G.O.M. is to be upon me!  Oh for a quiet life.

Ever yours faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

[But by February 17 the Booth business was over, the final rejoinder to Mr. Gladstone sent to press; and he writes to Sir J. Hooker:—­]

Please the pigs, I have now done with them—­wiped my month, and am going to be good—­till next time.

But in truth I am as sick of controversy as a confectioner’s boy of tarts.

I rather think I shall set up as a political prophet.  Gladstone and all the rest are coming to heel to their master.

Years ago one of the present leaders of the anti-Parnellites said to me:  “Gladstone is always in the hands of somebody stronger than himself; formerly it was Bright, now it is Parnell.”

CHAPTER 3.8.

1890-1891.

[The new house at Eastbourne has been several times referred to.  As usually happens, the move was considerably delayed by the slowness of the workmen; it did not actually take place till the beginning of December.

He writes to his daughter, Mrs. Roller, who also had just moved into a new house:—­]

You have all my sympathies on the buy, buy question.  I never knew before that when you go into a new house money runs out at the heels of your boots.  On former occasions, I have been too busy to observe the fact.  But I am convinced now that it is a law of nature.

[The origin of the name given to the house appears from the following letter:—­]

Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, October 15, 1890.

My dear Foster,

Best thanks for the third part of the “Physiology,” which I found when I ran up to town for a day or two last week.  What a grind that book must be.