From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 16 or 15 February [1883]

My dear George

I believe you will have been some time now without a letter; but I have been baddish for a day or 2. but nothing to signify— It is v. provoking that you will not be able to see the thing at Hendaye— I suppose you find beautiful things to see near Pau— The Grasse party have driven over the M^ts to Mentone— Bessy is sorry to leave Grasse as she does not feel it thoroughly explored yet—& the beauties seem endless— Laura who has such a power of taking care of people, found a sick young man on her hands, however to her great relief he moved to Cannes & a brother came to him–- Then a half crazy man turned up in the Hotel & B. was afraid she w^d some how get the charge of him— The Crosses have made their stay very pleasant, & also the Hamonds— The wet weather is depressing, tho' warm & pleasant. It is said that the autumn sowed corn is already perished & much land is under water— W^m has 5 in. of water in his cellar— Bernard had a souse in the ditch at the Grasse (in a velvet suit too, like you at Barlaston)— Luckily M^rs Jackson was at the cottage & undressed him & wrapped him in a blanket, while Frank came home to fetch dry things. B. enjoyed it, especially as he wanted to spoil his velvet clothes (but that is not the case). Horaces house is marked out & looks enormous on the ground. They will have hard work to manage Marshall who of course wants to do something creditable to himself & they want something not ornamental. The estimate is to be £25⁰⁰— We are to have Adam Sedgwick & Waldstein to dinner today—& Horaces & Ida— An odd report came to the Crosses that M^rs Jebb was at Pau— I don't know the channel. We are moved into the dining room—wh. oddly has more room, & is m warmer—

Goodbye my dear old man | yours E. D