From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [1859?]

My dear William

I have been very bad for 2 or 3 days with headache & toothache but now I am all right. I suppose you have been quite too hot till yesterday when it became cooler again. We have discovered that both the poor dogs have been shot & the only comfort is that it is a perfectly easy death. They were let out unluckily both at once & started off for the woods & a boy saw them run in & directly heard two shots & the dogs cry out  It was M^r Christy's gamekeeper. Since beginning this I remember it is you I want to write to & not Gingo, who will be very sorry about Snow. I must write & break it to M^rs Bunbury. I am glad you feel so steadily & comfortably at work. We have had a very pleasant letter from M^r Wilson about you. He seems to think you & Simpson about equal in math. The Hensleighs viz M^r & M^rs. Erny Effy &c are coming on the 31st to stay a week, which will be jolly. It is the old drawing room which is so smart & it really is so nice I doubt whether we shall not stick to it tho' we mean to try the new room as drawing room   But we have not begun upon furnishing it yet. Georgina Tollet came last Sat. so I have unluckily lost almost four days of her visit, & she goes tomorrow. She read a great deal of Papas M.S. & is very useful to him in making him explain things that are not quite clear. Goodbye my dear old man. You will soon be here.

your affec. | E. D.