From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [6 September 1856]

My dear Willy

I think you have been a neglected individual this week & I have only just time to save my credit  Maull & Polly are generally a long time executing orders but I have written to them again. But they have so much to do they can't get on very fast. Georgy is at home very prosperous & bringing a very good report, especially of Mathemics so all Papas botheration was not wasted. The Hensleighs are at Hartfield & are coming here on Monday. We must have a good visit from them at Xmas as this is only 3 days

Emmy comes also. Georgy went a ride by himself yesterday & the children went to fish for little monsters for Papa's vivarium out of the Cudham school pond. I have had a sore throat for some days & was in bed yesterday. Lenny has been poorly for some time, but he is all right now except a cold. Goodbye my dear old man I am not very sharp yet. G. stays till Tuesday. Poor Old [Dady] is gone & Mrs Evans looks very natural & smiling & we don't find it so hard to give her her name as I expected