From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 2 April 1884

My dear George

I have just rec^d Maude's affectionate note. It makes me feel how nice it will be to see her so soon. I shall write to her in a day or 2 when she will be in Paris— I think as your day in the woods was so delightful every thing must have been smooth & pleasant. Now I am going to discuss houses— I am quite against your building here, much as I should gain by it myself. We are in fact out of the world here & Maude w^d find her life much more sociable & pleasant if more near the centre of things. Also for yourself it would add much to the fatigue of your life. This place suits me perfectly; but to Bessy, tho' she is quite content, I see that she w^d have much more daily sociability, say at Grata Quies or Newnham. The Orpens are just leaving their house in Newnham Terrace I believe. M^rs Orpen suffers much from neuralgia & she thinks the place not healthy. I can't imagine that it would be different from the E. C. Clarks or M^rs Godfrey's houses— Then I suppose you could have Springfield from Oct to May, so as to look about you

Horace & Ida set out tomorrow with their pleasant party of M. Foster M^r Coutts J. & the body physician D^r Pye Smith. Horace looks very unwell & I don't know when he has had such a long bad bout— Ida is perfect in cheerfulness & tenderness, & she thinks it is better for him to force himself to see people & exert himself a little, tho' attempting to go to the shop & coming back entirely done up was certainly bad for him. The children come to us—

You will be at Paris at the same time I think but I suppose they will hasten on—

We are expecting Rose today & shall not be sorry if Hermann is too busy to come.

At Fanny & Snow set out on Monday last

yours dear George | E D