From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [28 October 1863]

My dear William

I believe it is months since I have written to you but I have had a good deal of writing on my hands.

On Saturday M^r Engle–went up to consult D^r Brinton (phys. to Guy's H.) on your father's behalf. He brought back a prescrip. & after he has tried it some little time we shall have D^r B. down to see him. He has a great rash come out on his shoulders partly encouraged by a compress & I believe it will be of use to him. He has walked a little further every day & yesterday accomplished twice round the sand walk—

He got so weak at Malvern after you left us that he could not walk a step but from one room to another.

I forgot to tell you that M^rs Acland called after you left. I thought her pleasing & pretty but Hen. w^d not allow the prettiness. I went to Bromley yesterday in Reeves's fly as Billy has entirely struck work & lay flat down in the yard the last time he was requested to draw. I heard at Nash's of the melancholy death of poor Frances Wells whom you thought you saw at Malvern. She was dressed & going out to dinner when she was suddenly taken ill & died in an hour's time. It must have been the heart I suppose. I picked up A^t Eliz. at the station & she is come home as fresh as a lark, but they had 16 rainy days which is not what one goes abroad for.

Lizzy comes on Saturday. Last evening there was a brilliant fire to the South. We settled it to be that timber yard & carpenter's near the Westerham road but it turned out to be much further of a farm near Tatsfield & a very extensive fire I hope the poor man is insured.

Oddly enough early this m^g before light two stacks at M^r Solomon's were burnt down. I don't think it can be an incendiary. Mr S. is insured.

Hen. goes next week to Everleight for a week—Hope assures her she will find it very dull & I think it is possible, but young people like a new place. Mr Huxley writes to Papa that I am to treat him like Vivien did Merlin & shut him up in an oak, he then apologizes that Vivien is not a very proper person, but as Papa does not read Tennyson concludes it does not signify. They have been coming to fisticuffs in Australia about Darwin & Huxley &c—

Horace is about as usual & is gone on the pony this m^g. with Duberry to look after the fire. He does a little reading every day.

Goodbye my dear old man | E. D.