From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin [3 August 1882]

My dear George

Hen. went today to arrange about setting the photo on China for D^r Clark— It is to have a gold rim & a gold back & to be hung on a velvet plaque something like a large locket— in a sort of Morocco case— We want an inscription for the back— How do you like

"D^r Andrew Clark

from

M^rs Charles Darwin

in memory of

long year of kindness—

I don't quite like the last words—can you mend them— I was glad to think my dear old man that you were certainly looking better than when I saw you last. I felt that a luncheon with you w^d be a sad contrast to the many happy ones we have had with you, & that it w^d be better not to give you the trouble—

I had a nice sight of Elinor, who looks wonderfully little pulled down, but she takes more food than I thought she did, tho' not a morsel of meat. She means to continue under her disagreeable D^r—

I am just expecting Bessy—

The old ash tree was observed from the house to be smoking yesterday & it broke into flame— they have had q^t difficulty in getting at the hollow to put it out,— but the tree does not seem injured— You may shew Leo's letter to H. return it to me at Basset no they have seen it— yours my dear George | E. D

They can only conjecture an idle boy's trick.