From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin [February 1884]

My dear George

Hen. will have forwarded to you my letter & also William's, wh. was so discreet it w^d not hurt a fly— We shall not begin any planting until the house is built— If we c^d copy the clump in Down field! but unluckily you cannot copy old thorns.

I thought I sh^d have been better today, but I don't see that I am, & I shall not go down–stairs but have a visit from Leo & B— Talking suits me very badly. I heard from Lady Hooker today & she seems r. glad to have been put off, as she thinks Sir J. not quite fit to visit— Poor Harriet Dyer is I sh^d fear seriously ill— tho' her D^r Pye Smith says not—

There was no doubt about my not being fit— Poor Romanes is very sore about the treatment he has met with from Huxley & has written to Hen. & to Frank— I hope they have both smoothed his feathers. It is not a nice part of Huxley enjoying so much giving a snub. The Franks are gone across home & I think Ellen is well, but far from strong. Fr is busy making big drawings for his lectures. The accounts of Horace are perfect— The only trouble is how to amuse the nurse, as she is not like Good nurse Reading who used to do every thing herself instead of having it done for her— I am vexed to see hardly any thing of Razymousy— The dining room makes a capital play room & Dubba is really fond of him & plays w. him for a long time. What is the story of Lord Coleridge's daughter leaving his house to teach music, & marry a M^r Adams.

I am glad you sent William home, especially as I sh^d not have been able to teach him— I mean to begin on a new tack & cast grammar to the winds for a long time.

I hope you find snatches of time to talk to Sir W.

yours dear G— | E. D