From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 20 February [1883]

My dear George

My moral from yours & Bessy's experience is that "abroad" is a much pleasanter place if you meet friends & acquaintance   Her stay at Grasse has been made very pleasant by the kindness of the Crosses, as Laura was not well enough to do things herself— They are now at Cannes & in a week or so will most unwillingly turn their faces homewards   Claud came up to pay them a visit with a cold—& Laura learnt from him what a horrid family he was boarding w; quite careless as to his warmth or comfort after most serious charges on Effie's part, giving him a companion in his room contrary to promise, & not food enough, so specially bad for chest tendencies— Also squabbling among themselves-

The Farrers have telegraphed to Claud to move at once to a Hotel, wh. will be a thunder clap & prob. they will make it v. unpleasant to Claud—

The shop has had an order to invent a musical inst. wh. fills Horace head—a violin to be played w. keys—an Hon. M^r Powlett is the patron.

How horrible the Dublin trials are— It is an excellent moral that villains can never safely trust each other. I am dreadfully bloodthirsty & can't bear the thoughts of the wretch Carey (an educated man) escaping. Bernard took his 1^st ride w. the riding master—on such a fidgetty screw & quite a big animal, that it did not look v safe to my eyes; but it was trained to stick q. close to the master & he came home without any alarm a g^t thing for not a brave boy— Ida goes to 66 today to receive a young she violinist who is to play at the concert tomorrow. Perhaps I shall go in this evg for the chance of some practising. I suppose Lady Brooke is dead— I am surprized at that sort of man being satisfied to play at any thing all day. M^rs Ruck comes tomorrow— She will be v. sorry to miss you— I find her most comf. company— I have sent on yr directions | yours may dear | E. D