From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [24? March 1856]

My dear Willy

M^r Mayor wrote a kind long note to say how you were & I am sorry to hear of your other leg having boils. I am glad you have got a room to yourself. I hope you will write again in a day or two & that you will have been out of doors. Poor Tim was much disappointed not to join the Easter party here but he is to come here later when his holidays take place. Lenny said about Aunt Fanny "I don't love her so so much as I used to do, besides I am too late for she is married". Effie is very merry & pleases Lizzy very much by playing with her. We make her sing a good deal in the evenings & she sings "Vado ber spesso" very well. I think your having been in bed for a few days will very likely heal your leg. We are all going to the Lubbock ball on Tuesday except poor Meta Gaskill who is sick in bed. She came with the Cumberland folks & is daughter of "Mary Barton". Uncle Frank is here also. We are going to have a dinner party on Friday of Lubbocks Carters & Cators which is awful to think of.

Goodbye my dear old man | your affect. | E. Darwin