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

My dear William

I am so glad you will be able to come here. I do not however advise next Sat— as we shall not be alone (the Hartley Wicksteads (Mary Hancock) will be here for the Sunday— Just rec^d y^rs wh. puts next Sat aside

I hope your throat will soon be better; but I pity you about tobacco & tea. I find the house much more cheerful from having Dicky about—

I want some one to teach him to dance— He stands so long on his hind legs that he w^d find it easy— We fond the house gorgeous with autumn flowers & double sunflowers, & the dahlias still going on; but I keep to my original contempt for autumn flowers—

I think prob. Leo. & Bessy will be here for Sun. Nov– (not 3^rd also Mildred– I hope you will be able to come—

I believe Frank will be the one to go to the funeral I enclose Louisa's letter as it is full of feeling.

Her father was sitting up all day just before this collapse took place— U. Frank will feel it very deeply– I am reading your father's journal after a long gap— It makes me feel so happy as if I was going with him; only I want to ask him so many questions. The real man comes out constantly e.g. thinking to give a toad in a dry place in Rio Plata "quite a treat" by taking it to a pond & nearly drowning it—

I am so interested in the bigamy case & have turned entirely round to believe Malcolm guilty— The incident of the Highland dress is conclusive. It certainly was the most gratuitous piece of wickedness ever committed. One can hardly believe that Miss Dash was quite respectable—

Horace has quite tumbled down again in point of health. He had a long talk w. M^r Lyttleton, who is for Home Rule & an Irish Past^+^ for all Irish affairs— I sh^d like to believe Chamberlaine to be an honest man; but I fear he is holding out hope of benefit which he knows to be false— I only trust Gladstone & Co will be upright if they come in—

Yours my dear W | E. D Ras– wanting to get the bellows from Ruth–in a very sweet voice "When will it be my turn? Ruth "It is your turn now"— I hope he will profit by the experience–