It had been arranged that the lectures (which the University, rather against the Founder's wish, decided should be called the 'Romanes Lectures') were to be given in the Trinity Term, but owing to the General Election of 1891, Mr. Gladstone postponed the delivery of his inaugural lecture until October 1892. _Journal, March 1892._--The Comptons have been here for Norman's baptism, which was a strikingly pretty ceremony in cathedral at evening service with the choir. Our Dean and the President of Magdalen, as well as Lady Compton, stood sponsors, so the boy is well provided. The students at St. Hugh's Hall decorated the font, and as the boy's second name is Hugh, he is a special protégé of the little Hall. _April 1._--We spent a week at Malvern, in company with the Walter Hobhouses, and then went on to Denton Manor,[95] where a company of the wise, including Ray Lankester, Professors Poulton and Shadworth Hodgson, and Mr. Sully, were. Also others, including Lady Cecil Scott Montagu, who walked abroad with a divining rod, a real act of courage considering who were among the party. At Malvern Mr. Romanes wrote a sonnet which, in the light of after years, was a sad prophecy. _MALVERN_ 1892 'To doze upon a sunny hill in June, And hear the lullaby that Nature lends; To drink the cup that sweet contentment blends With sweetlier love of those whose hearts shall soon Reverberate with joy, as they attune Their praise to praises that achievement sends: This is to feel that bounteous Nature bends A mother's smile on manhood in its noon. But when the shadows of the twilight come, And high Ambition needs must fold his wings, While voices both of hearts and hills grow dumb, Can she still bring the smile that now she brings? Yea, by the memory of brighter things, I'll trust her in the night that calls me home.' _Journal, May and June 1892._--Had a delightful visit from the Butchers and Mr. H. Graham, later on the Comptons, and Mr. Edmund Gosse, full of witty and wise sayings. Lord Compton sang more divinely than ever, and the Principal of Brasenose played the piano. It was a real musical feast. Professor Le Conte came to stay here, we had Mr. Gore and one or two others to meet him. _To Miss C. E. Romanes._ 94 St. Aldate's, Oxford: June 10, 1892. My dearest Charlotte,--I received your letter of the 6th inst., together with the pair of slippers; the latter are the very thing that is required when occasion again arises. Ever since you left we have been having Italian weather, the only objection to which being, that for my taste the sunshine is too continuous.