"band of
brothers," and the sufferer who had been healed rejoiced when not
long after an opportunity arose to share in a similar gift of help and
healing to another of the same good fellowship.

XVI

HOOKER, FORBES, TYNDALL, AND SPENCER

Of his nearer contemporaries the two most intimate and faithful of
his life-long friendships were with Tyndall and Hooker, concerning the
utter frankness of which he writes to the latter:--

I wish you wouldn't be apologetic about criticism from
people who have a right to criticize. I always look upon any
criticism as a compliment, not but what the old Adam in T.H.H.
_will_ arise and fight vigorously against all impugnment and
irrespective of all odds in the way of authority, but that
is the way of the beast. Why I value your and Tyndall's and
Darwin's friendship so much is, among other things, that you
all pitch into me when necessary. You may depend upon it,
however blue I may look when in the wrong, it's wrath with
myself and nobody else.

The common note in these friendships was not only community of aims,
but an essential generosity and sincerity. This it was that had drawn
him so strongly to Edward Forbes among the leaders of biology when he
returned, an unknown but promising pioneer of science, from the voyage
of the _Rattlesnake_. For Forbes inspired his admiration and affection
as a man of letters and an artist who had not merged the _man_ in
the man of science; free from pedantry or jealousy--the two besetting
faults of literary and scientific men; earnest, disinterested, ready
to give his time and influence to help any man who was working for the
cause; one of the few to whom a proud man could feel obliged without
losing a particle of independence or self-respect.

My notions [he writes] are diametrically opposed to his in
some matters, and he helps me to oppose him.... I had a long
paper read at the Royal Society which opposed some of his
views, and he got up and spoke in the highest terms of it
afterwards. This is all as it should be. I can reverence such
a man and yet respect myself.

Without his aid and sympathy the young man would never have persevered
in the course he ventured to choose, and in following which it was one
of his greatest hopes that they should work in harmony for long years
at the aims so dear to both.

"One could trust him so thoroughly!" There lay the root of friendship.