From Emma Darwin to G.H. Darwin [29 April 1881]

My dear George

We had the two little Monty Lubbocks to tea w. B. Conny brought them. They looked very pretty dressed in crimson velvet & lace just like the Royal Families of Vandyke. They were very vivacious & chattery & enjoyed the slide. The other day Bernard spent the P. M. at High Elms & as he was coming away said "There's my carriage" so little Monty called out "It's not your carriage" & after a dispute, said with a condescending wave of the hand "It is my carriage, but I will let the little boy ride in it." Bernard has taken to be inconveniently fond of his Dadda & can hardly bear to be left by him, especially when lessons ensue; & I have had to change the time of one of his lessons, so as not coincide with leaving Fr.

Hen. is much in the dark about you & was hoping you w^d be here over Sunday

They have an engagement on Saturday & so come on Sunday—& I rather dread Mrs Haliburton's visit, F. will have to devote himself entirely to her. Leo. will have the coast entirely clear to devote himself to Rachel, & Fr must take his turn at that duty. Don't you think the H. of Commons shews some hypocrisy in their deep feeling about Bradlaugh taking the oath; however I think it will hasten the alteration of the law so as to admit of affirmation.

Bessy is going to do a bit of duty & walk w. the Miss Teesdales—M^r Tomkins came in yesterday to ask Frank to come & play lawn tennis w Miss Teesdale— He is so alarmingly at leisure that he finds it difficult to sit less than an hour on any occasion— The small pox is very virulent & 3 have already died at the Union— We are going to have a vaccination on Monday. M^r Ed. thinks that Bern. is still quite safe from his former one— He thought the infection it was almost certainly brought in rags to the paper Mill.

Yours my dear G. | E. D