30 October 1911 – 5 November 1911

Home once more. The Natural History Museum impressed me enormously. It is a magnificent building--too magnificent to work there--to follow one's profession in a building like that seems an altogether too grandiose manner of life. A pious zoologist might go up to pray in it--but not to earn his daily bread there.

I'm in, in, in!!!!!!!!! being first with 141 marks to spare. Old M----[the servant] rushes up to my sister's bedroom with the news just after 7 a.m., and she says, "Fine, fine," and comes down in her nightgown to my bedroom, where we drink our morning cup of tea together--and talk! I'm delighted. What a magnificent obstacle race it has been! Still one ditch--the medical exam! Wired to friends.

This is the sort of letter which is balm to me:--"My darling W----,--I need hardly tell you how absolutely delighted we were at the grand news of this morning. You must be feeling a huge glow of satisfaction with the knowledge of your object attained through untold difficulties. I don't wish to butter you up, or to gush, but I must honestly say that I feel tip-top proud of my old Beano. I admire your brains more than ever, and also your indomitable pluck and grit, and your quiet bravery in disappointment and difficulty...."