From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [23 February 1859]

My dear William

I am very glad to hear of y^r mornings being so dull. I never told you that John W. has failed in the exam. I don't know what he is to do now. I thought at Hartfield that I sh^d have come to a regular blow up with the G. but I wrote her a note "stern but just" (as she talks so much she never listens to a word I say) & that brought her to reason & we have gone on quite smooth since  how long it will last I know not. She used to keep poor Skimp stupefying over a lesson for 2 hours & then told him he sh^d have no breakfast till he said it  Fancy the consternation of Frank & Lizzy  they came solemnly to tell me, & then she scolded them for telling tales, & then I scolded her & said they always were to tell every thing & then she scolded me & said they were such naughty children behind my back I c^d not judge any thing about them.

But we are the best of friends now, but I feel there is a volcano beneath the surface. She gives a German lesson to Etty & I try to listen & make out what she says in German.

Mrs Peters' mother is dead so I think they will go as they are very much in debt in the village. Lady Morgan is the painted old lady that Etty knew at Moor Park. She was one of the first who took up the cause of the Catholics in Ireland & Florence Macarthy was a novel written on that subject. But she is intensely conceited so that I have no doubt she never made half the sensation she fancies. She looks now exactly like an old fairy in a Pantomime. I think she must have been brilliant & pretty. She writes verses & plays on the P.F. & sings now. I am reading Hodson & am charmed with him. Etty is finishing off Motley by reading Prescotes Philip II & she is very indignant with some sneeze against W^m of Orange as if he was self interested.

George has had his money stolen out of his desk. He went to the Crystal P. & had great fun. He sends an account of the ex. one item is Velocipede 1/– which he says was not necessary, as Papa gave him some money to spend in necessaries.

Papa has been very well these few days, & working away & every day's work tells now.

We are scheming going to the water cure at Ilkley in Yorkshire for the summer. It is in a charming wild country. Kissinger is gone down the hill.

Goodbye my dear old man  yours E.D.

Edmund was so pleasant & goodnatured to the boys that he made their visit delightful. He is getting very grand in his notions about gold watches carriages & horses &c. I am afraid Aunt Charlotes dress will give him some pangs. I warned her about it.