From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [18 July 1859]

My dear William

Your life sounds uncommonly pleasant & there is no end to the lovely weather, indeed it makes me so lazy I rather wish it to change. Effie paid us a very short visit & we did little else but sit under the lime trees & take a walk in the evening Etty on the donkey. Aunt Susan Uncle Ras & uncle Hensleigh came on Sat. but unluckily your father had an attack yesterday & was in bed most of the day, he is tolerable now but is going to Moor Park tomorrow, as he has been failing some little time. Tim passes his time pretty well sky larking with the little boys. His manner are wonderfully improved & he is particularly obliging & ready. George has had great luck among moths every evening in the Stony field & has caught what he thinks great treasures. Brodie had fixed her day for going but she looked so miserable that we have asked her to stay longer & she will do so. The scarlet fever is very bad in Farnboro' & 5 children have died.

Our cricket match went off brilliantly & M^r Parslow's party beat M^r Reeves' all to nothing.

George never goes to cricket which is a pity. The roses have been lovely but all the flowers blaze away & are done directly. Eras Hope & Hensleigh go tomorrow & Susan stays a little longer

yours my dear old man. E. D.