From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [13 September 1876]

My dear William

You will like to know all I can tell you. Yesterday George & Horace were in London arranging for the trains for the conveyance of the coffin, so as to have no changes & they managed it with some difficulty by going from Bromley to Willesden— Horace slept in Q A St so as to be ready to travel down w M^rs R. Frank and Arthur today— Dickie & M^rs Atkin go down with the coffin tonight. The last thing I saw of Frank was his coming in last night just to see the new baby— I am afraid he will be more utterly miserable than he is now, as he has violent bursts of tears & overflows with affection for us all— He has asked his father to send proof sheets to him to copy & he has taken down F's autobiography to make a copy of it—which will be work without much thought. He does not mean to attend the funeral which is to take place at a beautiful little Church 5 miles off.

He took a pleasure in looking often at poor Amy & adorning her with flowers & came over in the evening after it was dark to get some Stephanotes & it seemed to add to his bitter grief not being able to find any but one spray— They went off at 6 this morning calmly Parslow said—

M^rs Ruck is his great support— She is always able to speak. It all came a sudden blow on the poor brothers & I never saw anything like their grief— Afterwards they were most thoughtful & useful—

Poor Bessy can only sleep very little & is utterly shattered. She feels truly that she can never hope to have the loss of Amy replaced  She was so sympathetic & the only person B. could be open with. F. is distracting his mind with schemes about building an additional room so that Frank may be made comfortable. I hope George will run down & see you very soon—

We shall wait till we have established the baby with a wet nurse–-when I am sure Henrietta w^d come & stay with it while we were with you— They came from Glasgow yesterday morning   they heard the bad news there & perhaps it was better than the suspense— She found the car rough & swinging  very contrary to your experience but I think it has done her no harm.

My heart aches whenever I think of Frank; but now he is out of our sight we shall be able to forget him more & take to our usual occupations. F. has borne it wonderfully & I am quite well—

My dear William I long to see you— Do you keep as well as you can E.D.—

We feel much soothed by your dear affectionate letter & I shall keep it to shew Frank— He values every body's love & sympathy—

I shall always love M^rs Ruck  She forgets herself & is so tender— We should be most sorry for you to come now— You must save yourself all journies

F. prevented George going down— M^rs R. said she wished nobody to go that did not wish it strongly for their own sakes; but I found Frank did want one brother as he w^d not be there himself & so Horace is gone— Eras. was feeling it much