From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [27 May 1862]

My dear William

A sudden flash has come into my mind that I will bring Horace & stay a week with you. Miss Ludwig is going to Hamburg & we think it will break his heart much less to leave her here & come to you which he w^d enjoy so much than for her to leave him quiet at home. I must bring Louisa L. I am sorry to say as she is much more used to him when he is bad than a maid w^d be. I think you have two spare rooms & I wonder whether you c^d hire a small bed or big crib to put into one of them. We shall not bring a maid. We should like to come this day week if that will do for you & Miss Pugh will stay at home with Lizzy. Mr Engleheart is very anxious to get him away from Miss L. & he thinks a change or excitement would do him good. I doubt whether it will make much difference about Miss L. but I think some times his great fondness for her agitates him & makes him worse. I think she is very judicious & quiet with him. I want particularly to have you to come & meet the Josselinas about the 21^st for the Handel so keep that in view. They are so much improved & very nice.

I shall enjoy coming to visit you nearly as much as Horace will. Cambridge seems to have been delightful by Etty's account & to have answered entirely.

Yours my dear W^m | E. D

Lizzy & I spent some hours in the Exhib. yesterday we felt rather bedrabbled all but the pictures.