From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 28 September [1881]

My dear George

We have had 3 delightful days & I hope you have been able to profit by them & have reached the Archdeacon's—

The little Pattricks & Louisa return home tomorrow. They are such nice tasteful children & so improving for B. that I sh^d like to have them for quite a long visit if we c^d have them w. a nurse instead of Louisa but they are so delicate that I sh^d be afraid & also they w^d not venture to send them. They have all been riding the donkey & either emulation or shewing off, made Bernard quite bold & trotting. We also tried a little education w. the puppy from Parslow's but tho' these children were delighted w. it—B. hated it as much as before— M^r Pattrick is hard work, he is so languid, though interested in all F's subjects— The field affair is settled & we are to have what we want viz nearly an acre—

I am sure I shall enjoy that sunny walk & wall in the winter, as we lose the sun this side so very soon even now. Frank had 2 pleasant days at Cam. Nobody there but F. Balfour

F's experiments go on badly & the utmost he hopes for is the certainty of proving himself wrong. The Litches are enjoying Florence very much & have had fine weather. They are gone for a week to Venice— on Sat. we shall have the Moores & Joanna Horner—

Yours my dear G. | E. Darwin

Herr Büchner is coming today to luncheon—& let us hope that he talks English & will refrain from airing his very strong religious opinions—

I sh^d like this nice letter of Sara's again

William finds the Bel. Alpe very grim & stern but "bracing" & he had $\frac{1}{2}$ an hr talk w. Tyndall & was to go & lunch w. them & Lady Claude &