From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [15 April 1863]

My dear W^m

I expect to hear that your party went off well with such talking powers at your command. After all we sent Rose & Mabel to Barlaston as Rose did not at all recover her spirits but rather the contrary. Laurence took them & Lizzy to Miss Buobi on Monday & the girls had to try their mourning & pick up some clothes. Lizzy was left there & went back quite bravely. Franks last letter gave a better account of them all. They had got M^rs Hawkshaw, Godfrey & the baby moved to Barlaston the day before the funeral. Frank & Godfrey went over to Hem Heath to attend the coffin, leaving poor Cecily lying on the floor in the porch, with difficulty kept from fainting. She had meant to go to the funeral but could not. Amy & At F. went. Godfrey kept up well all day & he seems to have wonderful fortitude Frank hopes now that he will stay at Barlaston but I am afraid he will have great longing after his quiet little house, with Cecily to take care of him. Frank says there c^d not be a more dreadful moment than when Godfrey called him up at 6 o'clock the morning of her death & when he opened the door to him threw his arms round his neck & called out oh father she's gone she's gone! they had gone to bed full of hope The baby seems their great comfort. M^rs Hawk. has lost all memory of 3 days. Now she sits at the window & sees her children. Here is George's last. He was very virtuous to give up the play but your father thinks M^r Wrigley was in the right. I am afraid you will be entirely confined at Southampton this summer. We must come & see you when the Atherley's go abroad. We have finished the Cruise upon Wheels & end by being quite fond of the horse & dog & M^r Fudge himself.

Camilla goes today & Horace will not mind I am sure.

Hen. is more frantic than ever about her stewpan & we got some plants for it yesterday from Westerham.

Lawrence is a nice discreet boy but intensely grave & I should think rather dull.

Yours my dear W^m | E. D.