From Emma Darwin to Sara Darwin [1 July 1879]

My dear Sara

We are just returned home & have found your letter— I thought you & W^m w^d be impatient to hear Horace had no pleasant news to send & I suppose he had not the heart to write.

We went up to No 6. on Thursday he a good deal uneasy at not having heard from Ida since Monday— At No 6 he found a great blow in the shape of a kindly expressed note from T.H.F. saying that it w^d never do, owing to health & want of a profession & that all intercourse must cease—also a v. sweet & affecting note from Ida, saying that her father was so miserable about it she felt it was not possible to go against his wishes. You may imagine what a knock down blow this was to H. after leaving I. so happy on Monday— We were all v. miserable but in the dead of the night the more I thought about it, the more hopeful I became, as when 2 people are attached in these days it is only a matter of time before they marry— Meanwhile Horace went to Hen's. & had a v. miserable talk w. Hen. (R. was always hopeful) till it was time to go to Ida, about 8 o'clock as she wished to see him ""once more""— He stayed away 2 hours which Hen thought a very good sign & he returned m. happier than he went, being so convinced of her steadfastness. On Friday mg. after my night's reflection, I persuaded F. to ask T.H.F for an interview. This proved most useful— F. could tell him a great deal about Horace that he did not know, especially about his peculiar turn for mechanical invention, which is his profession tho' not a profitable one; also D^r C's opinion that he was so likely to get well as life goes on, & that it was suppressed gout. Also how well off he wd be, w. is a matter of some consequence when you are not likely to make money. But I don't think the money question came into Mr Farrers view at all. They had a long talk & T.H.F. shewed the deepest feeling & went back to Bry Sq—delighted w. F. Then I had a talk w. Effie; in which I perceived that she only thinks it a matter of time as she is so certain of Ida's constancy. She had been so blind that it came upon her utterly by surprize, w. as they were together all that Sunday was blind indeed & only equalled by the father in a novel— She was very nice & affectionate & so far agreed with T.H.F. as to approve of having no intercourse.

Then I saw Ida, who was v. charming & open & also happy. On Sat. we went to Laura's & stayed till this morning when we came away in torrents of rain— I had several talks w. Ida & she spoke so openly to F—& does not the least care who knows it; which pretty well shews how certain she thinks it to be. Then on Monday Laura joined us from Bry. St. having been employed for 2 days in consoling Horace as well as she could. He feels very bitterly not even writing to her; but Laura is convinced that will not last v. long I mean T.H.F's determination— He is now gone to Scotland & then he will settle at Cambridge & work & be as little unhappy as he can. Ida assures me she means to eat well & sleep well & not be unhappy at all— I feel very impatient at the prospect of a year or two's happiness being blotted out of their lives, when one knows how it will end— Leo writes us word of a house near Grasmere, which will just do & only just do—

We told Eras—& he of course was warm on our side of the question & said he considered her as a dear little Granddaughter—

Will you please let me have this long prose back again that I may send it to Bessy as it is too tedious to write twice over— They have had several beautiful days & enjoyed lovely walks at the Chalet de Villars & I think every thing answers well—

Mrs Atkin being full of enjoyment & most helpful as courier &c—

Will you give my love to Miss Ashburner. It is a real disappointment not to see her here; & if you see your way to coming here with her before Droitwich I hope you will let me know. She was poor spirited not to come to us by herself

F. enjoyed all his lark extremely after our agitations were over & Hen. has been to the Fr play & is going again— She & the Diceys come to us on Sat—

yours my dear Sara & W. | E . D—