From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 12 July [1889]

My dear George

It will be very pleasant to see you on the 20^th. I don't think we shall have any one—poss. the Leonards—

I am glad Miss Beaux is so successful—

It was v. unlucky to be so unwell at the beginning of your lectures—

Hen. has been laid up since Tuesday. She has always been so liable to be utterly knocked down & is so weak that I see that R. is v. much discouraged & forgets how often it has happened before. She has had D^r Allfrey's successor, who seems to be a nice man & will do to watch that nothing is coming on—

Bessy returns today after a cheerful visit at L. H. P. & 2 days at West Hackhurst. I hope Helen's holiday will not overtire Maud. Elizabeth is a g^t help— You did not tell me whether Pepper is at all less uproarious—

It shews the progress of civilization that Alice Miles & Louie Parslow brought their music & played some duets quite well, only it shewed the stupidity of Alice's master to give her such rubbish, as good music w^d have been quite as easy—

Louie has never had any tolerable teaching. I have been driven by [stress] of books to Rousseau's confessions & I think it shews the utter depravity of his mind that he could confess such things. Do you remember his accusing the cook of the theft of a ribbon he had stolen himself, & his abandoning his friend in an epileptic fit in a strange town. He is quite proud of never having stolen money but once. I shall be m. disappted if Bernard succeeds this time. They have made app^ts for him w. a dentist I am glad to say. We expect H. Hensleigh & Effie on the 23^rd. I am v. glad she comes w. him, or he w^d be dull— I have been driving out a little. The horses go rather too fast for my taste— but it is a pleasant feeling—

my best love to Maud | y^rs E D—