From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 31 March [1884]

My dear George

Here is a nice cordial letter of M^rs M'Lennan which you may burn— (By the way, did you think of M^r Rich— he will not have heard it from any one else—) I am so glad you wrote to M^rs Ruck the very first—- She calls you that dear blessed George for it— She promises to come in May.

Bessy met M^r J. W. at dinner the other day & they talked about you. He said he was astounded but thought the lady must be Miss Tennant! That w^d have been horried! & how fond you w^d have been of your mother-in-law. I wonder whether you will be here, I hope on Saturday, when we have the Frankes— I want to ask the Stanfords but I have a notion they look down on the F's in their misfortune (not but what they are prosperous & busy now) & we want to catch someone else—the Protheros, or Jacksons— But we shall not the least depend on you—

Horace & Ida went to K. Sq. chiefly to consult D^r Pye Smith. He gave H. a thorough exam. & found nothing definite the matter with him; but recommends a rest & change, & He & Ida are going to start w. the M. Fosters Mr Coutts J. & D^r Pye Smith on Thursday— The party will go on to Venice & H. & I. will stop at the Italian Lakes & be away about a month. H. is now unwell with a sore throat.

I think little William Feaver has been long enough with you, as he has taken to spend pretty nearly all his money, instead of saving it as M^rs Jackson wanted him to do— I gave him a talking yesterday & told him you w^d have to stop a new pair of boots out of his wages— It was also thought r. outdacious his going off on the river on Sat. with a boy & man out of the shop— M^rs Henry Jackson has been quite ill but is better. William gets on well w. French & is up to time at the shop— A nice pleasant letter from M^rs Jebb to Ida— I guess you will all meet here early in next week—-

When you are loafing about looking at shop windows in Paris do buy some charming little hairy dogs if you see them about an inch high—

We shall have a happy meeting— It will all feel very wonderful— I suppose you are used to it— I am not quite yet—

with my best love to Maude | yours E Darwin

P.S Mrs A P. Humphrey was telling Ida of her visit to the Dupuy family & what nice affectionate people she thought them, with no dash about them. M^rs Dupuy a simple motherly woman with none of M^rs Jebb's brilliancy about her—

M^rs Wherry drank tea with us the other   She expressed warm liking for Maude & seems a nice woman herself

William Feaver's spree that I told you of turns out very mild— a walk along the river with the pattern boy of the shop & little Everett. We are looking quite pretty with the Wych elms in full flower—