From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [30 November – 4 December 1859]

My dear William

It is very long since I have written to you but I hope your father has behaved better. We have had a very comf. visit here & Aunt Susan I hope does not suffer many agonies from the boys. Etty & I found it rather trying to have to eat 2 dinners a day, but it is wonderful how we are reconciled to it.

Mary Parker is much more sociable than she used to be & we get on very well. She takes the children out for long walks

Charles P. is very nice & good natured. Frank P. is coming today. We went to a concert one day & heard some very ugly singing which put the Shrewsbury school boys into an extacy. M^me Ruderdorf was the Prima donna & she sings well tho' rather screechy. Emily Thorley is with us & we have a little music every evening.

Miss Pugh comes to stay a week with us after we return home. Your father has sent the 2^nd edition to be printed & I suppose we shall be having those blessed proof sheets again as soon as we return home. It is a wonderful thing the whole edition selling off at once & Mudie taking 500 copies. Your father says he shall never think small beer of himself again & that candidly he does think it very well written.

How soon shall you be coming. Cumberland J. is to Christmas at Barlaston. Poor old Gingo has been obliged to decline owing to the row at the school several invitations to Cumberland

Your father is wonderfully well, but hates all his fellow creatures to a great degree

We go home on Tuesday so write home. Etty stays a week in Cumberland. She is much better. Goodbye my dear old man