From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 29 [April 1894]

My dear George

I am not so clever at Peggy as you. I tried 3 shades & got entangled & found it tiring & gave it up. Maud shewed me your work which is more regular than mine—

The Litches are here from staying w. the Diceys at West Malvern. They are in a house on a height looking into Herefordshire & just below them Lady Howard de Walden an old lady of 87 has built an enormous house like a magnified High Elms—quite close to the road & with hardly any garden— worse than that she has built a 7 f^t. wall for $\frac{1}{2}$ a mile along the road shutting out the view, & as she c^d not stop the public path thro' her ground she has built a high wall to shut it in— Nanny Allen was staying w. us & her brother Joseph is Secretary to this wicked old woman— who is however very kind to him & to all about her. The Allen sons & daughters have a very trying life with their father George Allen, who is much depressed & they are constantly trying to distract his thoughts from dwelling on himself. He gets better in the evg. & plays cribbage or whist & sleeps well.

Albert Dicey is v low about politics as he thinks the Gov^t are playing their game well. but he is always desponding.

I have read W. H. Smith's Life— We have no such man now—like a rock, & never factious. He is also pleasant in all he writes. Sara went w. Bee to the House, & heard Lord R. Churchill who seemed to be drunk & a J. B. appeared embarrassed & distressed at his exposure— She also went w. Bee to the L. U. women's meeting & was m. struck w. Bee's way & power of speaking, & was made a Vice Pres. herself to her own surprize as she does not approve of Political women— Ella (in a letter to Maud chiefly asking about you) says that M^rs Wright continued m. better & that she had heard a good acct of you thro' her. I can hardly believe your 6 weeks are so nearly over— It will be very nice to have you coming in again— The place esp. the Orchard has been in g^t beauty but the blossom is over now— Fr. took Caroline w. a ride. She looked very tiny on g^t raw boned Cyclops— but she enjoyed it

yours my dear G. E. Darwin