From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [after 7 October 1861]

My dear Wm

You are a very good boy to write such pleasant letters so often. I like your acc^t of M^r Fall & I think he had much better be kept on as a supernumerary.

I hope you will follow M^rs A's advice in taking a walk every day. You will soon have a call from M^r Acland who lives at Langdowne at Hythe 2 miles by water & 12 by lash. I guess he will ask you to spend a Sunday sometimes as the ferry boat does not suit for returning home late in the evening. The weather keeps quite charming still & we have been busy stowing away pears. Etty & I tidied all your photog. & have put them safe which was a long tiring job but it it did not prevent her walking to the end of the sandwalk afterw^ds which I did not feel at all inclined for. M^r Sowerby keeps Papa very hard at work drawing orchids & I am afraid he will be knocked up as he has to watch every stroke

M^r Sowerby is a very nice little man but he takes 30 seconds to answer the simplest question even as to beef. or mutton & when he is telling anything he is most tedious. He took his first lesson in croquet yesterday. Jones is poorly which stops the riding tho' I think James would do just as well.

Your father is deeply interested in all your news & we rejoice to hear that you will find coming away easy when once you are well entered. You had better call on Miss Heathcote (sort of sister in law to the Lyells) before long at 4 Cumberland Place. It is more civil to do it pretty soon.

Yours my dear old man | E.D