From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [28 December 1884]

My dear William

Yesterday was your birthday & I am beginning to feel old enough (in my legs at least & my ears) to have a son of 45. I am however very well— I believe you will find Leo & B. here on the 3^rd if you come then, on the other hand if you wait till the 10^th Horace & Ida will be back I hope— I trust you mean to give us at least a week, & Sara longer—

I am afraid it will end in their going to Aldershot which will be very flat work Leo. w^d certainly have volunteered for Egypt if he had not been a married man, & will go if he is ordered— but I shall be relieved if it does not happen. I doubt whether B. has thought of the possibility.

Your poor coachman's case is most perplexing. I don't know why the D^r does not think of a change for him less distant than Scotland—

George says he should like very much to have Pepys.– from C. L, & he will write to him later on— Horace & Ida crossed yesterday— Their business lies at Sevres & they go there by tram. They mean to go to Chartres & to any thing else they fancy within reasonable distance, but it is a bad time of year—

I am reading Fanny Kemble's first book again & I am more struck w. her cleverness & high aspiration than ever. It as a g^t pity she did not marry a good man—

George & Maud start for Paris tomorrow & it is quite doubtful where they go next.

A day school is looming in the distance for Bernard, & if they find that a nice boy of his acquaintance is also going to it, I think that will decide them in favour of it—

My best love to Sara | yours my dear William | E. D.

There was a prosperous letter from Col. Fraser from Kortie I think saying that the army was in good heart & very few accidents & little illness, but the rivers difficulties increased daily