My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

SPENCER, HUXLEY, AND OTHERS 247fancy some one must have calledHuxley's attentionto it, and when I next met him, I think just as hewas leaving Jermyn Street to go home, he was muchput out, and said something intimating that afterwhat I had said in this paper, he wondered at myspeaking to him again. I forget what more was said,but on going home I looked at the article, and foundthat I had used some expression that might be interpretedas a slight to him. I immediately wrote aletter of explanation and regret, and Ihere give hisreply, which greatly relieved me, and our relations atonce resumed their usual friendly character."My dear Wallace," Very many thanks for your kind letter." I am exceedingly callous to the proceedings ofmy enemies, but (I suppose by way of compensation)I am very sensitive to thpse of valued friends, and Icertainly felt rather sore when I read your paper.But I dare say I should have 'consumed my ownsmoke ' in that matter as I do in most, if I had notbeen very tired, very hungry, very cold, and consequentlyvery irritable, when I met you yesterday.Pray forgive me if I was too plain spoken," And believe me, as always,"Jermyn Street, February 14, 1870."" Yours very faithfully,"T. H. Huxley.Although Huxley was as kind and genial a friendand companion as Darwin himself, and I was quite atease with him in his family circle, or in after-dinnertalk with a few of his intimates, and although he wastwo years younger than myself, yet I never got over afeeling of awe and inferiority when discussing with