From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 7 September [1891]

My dear George

I hope you have had some of the fine weather since Thursday–- It came just in time to save M^r Smith's black looking hay— I cannot remember when I wrote— We had Dick Atkin on Sat. & Sunday— He is very nice & sensible; but so very quiet & languid I am afraid his health must be weak—

He is poor looking too–-

Bernard likes being w. him & I wish he may copy his manners which are excellent. He came from his lady love a Miss Hemmant daughter of a rich Australian/ w 12 ch.) living at Sevenoaks—

Frank was not easy at leaving Ellen any longer & went home on Sat. wh. was a pity for Dick; but Marg. Shaen is always ready & pleasant. Fr also wanted to see about Otter. There have been mysterious communications wh seem as if he was kept hid. On Sat. M. & Bessy drove to Crockham Hill to see Miss Octavia Hill. You must remember the place well in your rides to Hartfield.

The old stone farm house w. fine yew trees on the high bank on the left just before you go down the hill— I think you can see the "phantom firs" from there. I sh^d like to see it again— I hope Maud's tricycle has proved nice.

Frank had a letter from M^r Dyer strongly approving of his address— Fr. was m. pleased as M^r D. is very little given to admiration of any one. Fr. has arranged for a substitute to lecture for him & he will stay quiet at S^t Moritz & Bernard join him in the holidays. Ellen has engaged a sister of Miss Sharpley's as nursery governess— She is very sorry to lose Alice (who behaves beautifully about it) but it will be better for Frances to have a lady, & it will also enable Ellen to have her more constantly with her without having the entire care of her. Bernard is 15 today w. a very grouty voice wh. I hope will subside, & just as simple as ever— writing his cricket matches— He went to the Sutherlands on Friday.

I am reading the Girl in the Carpathian w. amusement I must own; but with intense dislike at her vanity & coarseness. I was quite pleased to see her marriage w. a reporter of the Pall Mall. I thought it w^d suit her so well—

So proud of her cigarettes & her bare feet & her knicker bockers & her bathings & washings & drinking of ale in public houses—-

We shall have W^m & Sara from the 26^th to Oct 4 or 5— I wish you c^d come over & see him— They have engaged a courier maid I am glad to say—

The Litches come on Wed— for a good visit—

With love to Maud–-

yours my dear George | E. D—

Ellen does not wish her change of plan to get wind to Frances before the time October—