From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [25? September 1857]

My dear Willy

I am come here for a couple of days to see after Etty. I find her fatter & bigger & well all but her walking which does not get on. She will only stay out the month of October & then she will be very glad to get home, as she is become very tired of being here. Her dearest old lady is gone & her next dearest is going. She is very busy making holders for table napkins of beads. I hope you will manage not to smash your legs this last half year at football.

I did not leave Papa well yesterday & poor Pouter has been poorly off & on for a week, so I shall be glad to go back & look after them tomorrow. The roof is putting on. It looks like another great house stuck on. It is quite hot again today. I am glad you made use of Papa's speech. We shall have Gingo at home next week for a few days.

The grey mare goes very well in the tax cart & it has been very handy several times. Goodbye my dear old man. Papa is reading a book upon the choice of a profession wich makes him very low as it appears quite impossible to get on in any.

yours E. D.