From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin 7 November [1881]

My dear William

F. desires me to thank you for the money (Cheque or what not) received & also to say that the Carlisle & Maryport is due. I hear from Hen. that George thinks just as you do about No 6—& Leo Ditto—

Leo dined & High Elms on Sat. & met Mr Childers with whom he had some talk— Mr C. had been at Chatham, shortly before, inspecting. He does not think Mr C. appears a very powerful man— There was only the family besides. The Litches came on Sunday mg—such a lovely hot day— We sat in the verandah & loafed about only it was so wet under foot. The tennis court is nearly done, & the wall not begun, but they have nearly carted all the materials. I am sure I shall enjoy the bit of land & its sunny wall in winter. We lose the sun here so early. I hope when you have started the British Assoc it will not be such hard work— Thank Sara for her nice letter. The Godfreys visit was very pleasant & I was glad to see that tho' he had been so knocked up he picked up here quickly & seemed well— The baby is a magnificent animal & it is pleasant to see Hope's delight in it— It has not an engaging face & does not smile.

The Godfreys 2. days went off pleasantly at Cam. It rained all the time & Hope & Ida talked incessantly of babydom & monthly nurses— G. was charmed w. Mr Prothero & I dare say it will end in sending Cecil to Kings. Horace thinks that as he got Greek enough to scrape thro' Cecil need not be afraid tho' he is only just beginning to learn it.

Leo. went to Oxford last week to see about the Transit of Venus next year. He thinks it is in train  It will be either Bermuda Jamaica (w. wd be delightful) or C. of Good Hope—none of them w^d occupy more than 4 m— Bessy went up by sleeping car to Stranraer on Wed. night crossed on Thursd. mg, land locked for nearly $\frac{1}{2}$ the time but very rough for an hour. Mary H. met her at Belfast where they had some hours to wait for the Lurgan train. She finds Mrs H. pleasanter than she expected; but the father, who is the agreeable one of the family is utterly done up & has gone abroad, leaving the agency to his son, who is very hard worked w. the Land Commission—

By the way what do you think of some of the decisions  F. & I think they are not just to the Landlords, e.g when the improvements are made before the time of the present tenants. S^t James Gaz. is frantic on the subject.

Fr & B. are v. happy at Aberdovey— Little Miss Ruck is v. pretty behaved & says all the proper things— Not so B. who when they ask him whether he remembers them always answers No—& how he likes Aberdovey— Rather—I wish he might learn a little more graciosity from her. Fr has covered himself w. glory in catching Salmon & now has sent for his gun to shoot snipe!

yours my dear W^m & Sara E.D