To Miss C. E. Romanes.
18 Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W.: July 24, 1881.
My dearest Charlotte,—There have been no letters from you for two days, so I have nothing to answer.
I did not write yesterday because we were spending the day with Mr. Teesdale, in his house at Down, and did not get back again till past the post hour. We went over to pay a call upon Darwin. He and his wife were at home, and as kind and glad to see us as possible. The servant gave our names wrongly to them, and they thought we were a very old couple whom they know, called Norman. So old Darwin came in with a huge canister of snuff under his arm—old Norman being very partial to this luxury—and looked very much astonished at finding us. He was as grand and good and bright as ever.
In to-day's 'Times' you will see a letter by 'F.R.S.' which is worth reading, as are all the productions of his able pen.
I have been applied to by the Editor of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica' to supply an article on 'Instinct.' This I am writing.
We are all quite well, except that I have had a cold, which is now going away.
With united love to all, yours ever the same,
George.