From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [9 January 1880]

My dear W^m.

You will have been expecting to hear every day that all is over at L.H.P.; but the last account from Margaret shews that the decline is almost imperceptible, & Lucy is gone home for a few days, so she must feel that the end is not very near—

H. & I. find the Oatlands hotel so comf. that I think they may make that the limit of their tour—

They are v. idle & can hardly read a novel; but they managed to eat their 2 supplies of sandwiches on the road—I think the poor little ghost in blue velvet, looked as if she had not managed any food that mg—

They enjoyed the beautiful Sunday & walked a gt deal in that pretty country. F. desires me to thank you for your note. He means to settle nothing about the £400 as yet; as he thinks if he gives it; it ought so be principally for Botany— No doubt he can learn from F. Balfour who is coming tomorrow all about the Station at Naples—

I had such a nice letter from Aunt Anne— It concerned Horace so I sent it on to them.

The letter in the Spec. signed a ""Convert to Democracy""—is by T.H.F—but it must not be mentioned. I agree in every word— Also in the Article on Land in Fortnight

I long to talk over M^me de Remusat—w. S— What a snob he was searching out the precedents for his parvenu court & reviving all the rubbish he c^d find—

Fancy M^me. Murat fainting because she was not to be Altesse Imp—I feel impatient for 2^nd vol— Miss Bird is such a romancer (we are convinced) that it makes her not worth reading—

yours my 2 dear ones | E D