From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [2 July 1885]

My dear William

Many thanks for your pleasant letter— It was a kind thought inviting Carry & she lives very much on visits & is a pleasant guest. I admired that Bourrée the most of what she played— She a little wants softness but is v. satisfactory—

I am glad to think Maud is safe at home. Ella Du Puy stayed a few days longer to go with Bessy to the Crystal P. which was a failure owing to her having a bad headache. She is clever & lighthearted & pleasant & quite tasteful, & a great benefit to Maud, with whom she will stay till after her confinement— The C. Langtons are having a little London season & Hen. met them at dinner at 31 Q. A. St— She thought her nice & pleasant & as for C. L. he is not only 20 years younger, but less deaf— He is come to a complete breach w– Lena, chiefly owing to his indignation at her not providing a governess or master for the girls; but he had much better provide one himself instead of wasting indignation on Lena— but he always did like a battle, e.g. Lena is going to accomp. Stevie on a voyage of 6 m. & because C. L. does not choose to be made a convenience of, he does not jump at the advantage of having the children with him for that time. M^rs L– was talking about it in his view as if the question was that Lena should take her fair share, & not that C. L. sh^d do the best thing for the children—She is however acting kindly & goes on seeing Lena & having the children. Mildred stayed 3 days w. Hen— & did so enjoy the chatter w. the Lushington girls, who were very cordial & nice to her— It was the Massingberds who prevented Mildred coming to us at Cam. thinking us no doubt corrupting as well as a low set—

Hen. spends a wholesome idle time out of doors & I think is nearly as well as usual—

What an extraordinary freak of the Pall Mall to publish any thing so improper & to emphasize it by hiring crowds of blacking boys to sell it. I suppose they have some moral aim— I sh^d think it w^d ruin the paper— But perhaps it is exaggerated— How mild & amiable Lord Randolph is grown— I am sorry the Go^vt are going to give up all Co-ercion in Ireland & I feel sure they can't think it safe, but only too troublesome & difficult to fight the Irish—

We expect the Huxleys on the 18^th (& no daughter) & I am writing to Lady H. to know which days Sir I. will be here—- I wish it might be the 18^th, & then you w^d have both but it is most likely the 25^th. It will be very pleasant to have a sight of you now & still more to have a good visit later on from Sara & Lily. Leonard & B. intend to give us 3 weeks in Aug. They are going home today— The death of M^r Fraser was quite sudden & without suffering, when he was apparently recovering. It is an immense relief to Leo— as they were entirely perplexed what to settle about him in future, & his life was v. miserable owing to his health & his furious & irritable temper. Bessy is staying a few days w. Mabel where she is very comf.

My best love to Sara | Yours my dear W^m | E. D—

I think it is comf. the Liberals being out— I feel as if highhandedness might be useful in Egypt—

The puppy has arrived from L. H. P. very pretty & engaging & always on one's lap— chiefly Hen's— & I wish she c^d have a dog— B. takes m. to him & is proud of gainign his affections

I have asked Sir I. to write straight to William