From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [3 February 1862]

My dear William

The boys first letters are very comfortable. I am sorry Lenny is so low in the school. I mean to be at him about his spelling & tell him it is keeping him back. He has written from dictation every day for months so I am afraid it is in the blood. John Lubbock came to dinner on Sat. & was very pleasant.

He talks of his father as quite unfit for the worry of business which seems very odd as he is not yet 60. I suppose it is hard work & drinking combined. Jones heard of a horse at Bromley so he & Parslow went to look at it & liked it much & we have changed the grey for it as he got to start worse than ever but your father has had to give 20£ additional which makes it cost £.80

Horace continues to have several fits of discomfort during the but they are not so bad or else he is more used to them poor little man, but I hate to see his pale face & big eyes.

The last No. of Orley shall be sent you tomorrow it is very painful but pretty. There is no doubt now of Lady M's guilt. M^rs Frank comes today, for ten days. I wish we could set up cards in the