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. How's a' wi' you? Let me have a line. We ought to have been in our house a month ago, but fitters, paperers, and polishers are like bugs or cockroaches, you may easily get 'em in, but getting 'em out is the deuce. However, I hope to clear them out by the end of this week, and get in by the end of next week. One is obliged to have names for houses here. Mine will be "Hodeslea," which is as near as I can go to "Hodesleia," the poetical original shape of my very ugly name. There was a noble scion of the house of Huxley of Huxley who, having burgled and done other wrong things (temp. Henry IV.), asked for benefit of clergy. I expect they gave it him, not in the way he wanted, but in the way they would like to "benefit" a later member of the family. [Rough sketch of one priest hauling the rope taut over the gallows, while another holds a crucifix before the suspended criminal.] Between this gentleman and my grandfather there is unfortunately a complete blank, but I have none the less faith in him as my ancestor. My wife, I am sorry to say, is in town--superintending packing up--no stopping her. I have been very uneasy about her at times, and shall be glad when we are quietly settled down. With kindest regards to Mrs. Foster. Ever yours, T.H. Huxley. [His own principal task was in getting his library ready for the move.] Most of my time [he writes on November 16] for the last fortnight has been spent in arranging books and tearing up papers till my back aches and my fingers are sore.