From Sara Sedgwick to Emma Darwin [3 December 1877]

My dear M^rs Darwin.

This is our first cloudy day, and I can devote a portion of it to the pleasure of thanking you for your welcome note. We were both so glad that you liked the arrangements on Thursday. Every day since then had flown only too rapidly and regret to think that this seclusion will come to an end before long.

Nothing could have been happier for me than coming at once to Basset where everything pleases me & where I already feel that I am at home!

We have walked in the pine woods & driven in the charming new carriage without meeting the neighbors and are absolutely contended & happy.

Perhaps we may go on Wednesday to Bournemouth but that depends on what William hears from W. Langton about the crowd there. At any rate it will only be for a few days after which work begins again. When I come back I shall begin taking lessons of M^rs Cutting in the art of English housekeeping. Now I am living like Queen Victoria without any knowledge of the Butcher and Baker.

The photographs have come or rather the proofs, and we are going to keep them although they are not as good as they ought to be—

Will you tell Frank that the plates are very handsome and that I thank him very much indeed— How much I wish that the Spring were near at hand & that you were all soon coming here— Give my love to all— There is a strange unreality about everything at present & my home perplexes me greatly. Nevertheless I am in very [illeg] & affection

Your most attached | Sara Sedgwick Darwin.

I ought to tell you that William is very much rested & refreshed.

I believe the old Clerk a [illeg] by profession! Who said 'Amen' with such a loud voice instructed William [illeg]

The [illeg] was indeed very pleasant