From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin [27 June 1883]

My dear George

I have forwarded your note to Frank— It convinces me that they might well give up all thoughts of Oxford, and he says "We both hate the thoughts of going there more than ever— also I hope there is a candidate Bowyer who w^d beat me"

We had much talk with W^m about it, & he thinks that Frank may without imprudence give it up— It will be an immediate relief to Bessy & me— She & Rachel start tomorrow mg— She is dismayed by a tel— to say that they are moved to Engelberg—a place she knows so well, having spent a dismal time there with William & Mabel—when he was so mis. Fr. says they come down separately to Table d'hôte to disarm suspicion— "but it is rather a drop in the ocean"—

It will be nice to see you on Friday— Leo. comes the following one—

Here is an odd thing— It turns out that Philip Norman has been privately married more than a year to a French Catholic, sec. to the Empress Eugenie— It was very bad of him with such a father & mother as he had—

W^m made out Fr income now at £1250— He has saved £1000— What can he have done w. the rest? It makes one feel how delightful the last month has been to feel the difference now—& the hay cutting too—

Goodbye dear G— | E. D—