My dear Lubbock

Many thanks for your note.² I told William that if the proposition came to anything, he would have to join immediately, & I left the acceptance entirely to his good sense, & he agreed. I am sure he would work hard, for througout life whatever he has done, he has done energetically. He would go down to Southampton at any time, direct from Cambridge; though perhaps it would be best for him on the road to see you & come here. This term ends about 20^th & no doubt he could get leave of absence for rest of term; & then he will have kept all his terms, & next year he probably could run up for three days & take his degree, for he has a natural wish (though in fact useless) just to take a degree after having completed his time & worked pretty hard.³ You can, if you like, forward this note to M^r Atherley;⁴ & I pledge my word not to mention M^r Atherley’s name to anyone, not even to my son William, until the affair has progressed

Dear Lubbock | Ever yours truly | C. Darwin

P.S. | I think if the affair progresses the best plan will be to send to William per Telegraph to come to London & I would meet him there & have some talk with him & then he could go down to Southampton.