April 21, 1900.
Dear Professor Wallace,—It is a bright day when I see your handwriting outside the envelope, and I am truly glad your cold is better; it was no slight matter that wanted mending. My journey was not so successful as I hoped. The wind was very cold on St. Albans’ platform and I got a chill, but I was up again yesterday, and hope to be just as usual in a day or two. I shall be so very glad to see you. Please fix your own time, and if you would tell me a little beforehand, I would try to get General and Mrs. Bigge to come to lunch. He I think knew Sir Wm. Muir in India, when he (General Bigge) was in military command. He would of all things enjoy a talk with you about horses.
One day (if you please that is) we would drive over to Batch Wood to tea, and Lord Grimthorpe will certainly come in and have a chat if he be well enough. In a parenthesis, would you care to drive over to Rothamsted? I know Sir Henry and Lady Gilbert and Mr. Warington.
I shall so like to be able to have a good quiet talk with you about various of my plans. I feel (may I be forgiven if I am too presumptuous) that now I have a real scientific home, and though I would not for the world intrude, I may I think ask my good colleague’s advice. As you will be here so soon I think I had best not write to Sir W. Muir, as he kindly gave me leave to do, about my father’s set of volumes of drawings. When you come you will guide my views as to whether they would be what might be liked for acceptance.
April 23, 1900.
I am doing just as you bid me, and after a little look at Mr. Garton’s paper,[[100]] which I am sure must contain a deal of solidly valuable information, I have laid it aside to wait your helpful guidance. I have a letter just now from Dr. Fream saying he would like very much to come to meet you (as I begged him), but cannot manage it. I am looking forward exceedingly to much useful and pleasant talk. I generally go to church at St. Michael’s (where Lord Bacon is buried) in the morning, but there is much good music at the Abbey close by, and you would do everything I hope just exactly as you like best. Yours very sincerely,
Eleanor A. Ormerod.
CHAPTER XXV
LETTERS TO PROFESSOR WALLACE AFTER THE GRADUATION
London Farmers’ Club Notice—Volumes of George Ormerod’s drawings and a painting of Miss Ormerod presented to the University—Handbook of “Forest Insects”—“Recollections of Changing Times”—Papers on “Stock Flies.”