From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 12 September [1887]

My dear George

Our weather has not been very nice; but quite suitable for taking long walks. I feel winding up, & as if we were to leave Down tomorrow, which is tiresome & annihilates time. We are very quiet without the dear little Soul, & I am glad she remembers me— I saw a letter from Effie after the children's visit to Abinger full of such love & admiration for them as must do her heart good— Ruth gets her innings there which I am glad of—

On Wed— comes Lily Shaen; & I hope she will find the rest & change do her real good, as the case of M^rs Shaen is so very wearing. When in London she or her Aunt has to go to the neighbours & entreat them to remedy some noise, & I should think it was the quietest situation in all London. Leonard now walks to the train & bee drives to bring him home. She keeps very well & cheerful. I wish she would take to playing whist (for her own sake I mean)   Leo & I quite fatigued ourselves with the mental effort of our surreptitious Patience last night. He is quite as fond of it as I am. R. & Hen. come the end of the week— I have sent my Pass book to William & he promises the family some plunder. He is to go into Lincolnshire as his tenant is going to throw up the farm he fears. Sara is really better & comes to us on the 25^th or 26^th— I long for William's life to be more free from care, & for Sara too— I had a very civil note from M^rs Good which I enclose. I think it means that you are to have the butter in the winter when she has got it— The Forrests came to tea— M^r Forrest was rather in a triumphal mood, I suppose a little for Bee's benefit.

M^rs Forrest's bonnet was something awful & in general she dresses in good taste.

Yours my dear George | with love to my dear Maud— E. Darwin