From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [30 November 1877]

My dear William

Frank's affair has been a fiasco—. It seems as if the Exam. had already been disposed of when Michael Foster wrote, or at least before Fr retraction had been received. At any rate he heard from M. Foster yesterday that it was too late. Frank feels a little flat but he is not sorry on some accounts e.g. he may now go to Germany some time in the summer, & in the other event he must have given it up in order to go to Kew & study—

I am glad on the whole that this has taken place, as now they know at Cam. that he w^d take the situation if it were vacant—& Fr knows that they wish it & think him competent.

I quite expect that At Eliz will make the move here before long if the weather permits— She may be said to be well except being weak— I shall want to know how the pony suits— I hope Sara will take very short turns at first. I thought she looked a little thin after her London dissipation, & I hope to hear of a course of cod liver oil—but it is nice to think how soon we shall have you here & I hope she will come on the Wed. as the Thursday is nearly as bad as Xmas eve—

Hen. went to the H. of Commons on Thursday, but it was a very dull night— She liked seeing how it was however. I had a visit from poor Waldemar v. Hafen yesterday to ask advice how his mother could get separated from his father, as he has become so violent. Two nights ago Waldemar returned home at night & found his mother & sisters all driven out into the road & a crowd assembled & the father raging about w. a poker in the house. F. gave him a letter to Mr Hacon who w^d give him good advice 

Mr v. H. is quite willing to go, but will be certain to come back as soon as he is in want.

F. keeps quite firm about employing Murray but he is quite willing that any of you shd undertake the ornamental part of the affair.

He has got materials to make a pleasant preface—one a very capital letter of D^r D. to Miss Howard before they were married—which shows him to be quite a human creature—

Things always grow in his hands so that I expect it will be quite a small book & not a mere pamphlet.

The writ is at last served on John Thorley— I suppose to his gt astonishment. I have some hopes that it will end in his replacing the money. Emily takes the affair with spirit & I think will hold out for her rights. I only hope they will have no interviews with the brother—

G. will be at home by Wed or Thursday—

Mr M'Lennan is so ill he is r. anxious to get away—

yours my 2 dear ones | E D