From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [22 January 1886]

My dear William

It was well you paid your calls that fine day, as it has been horrid since— I suppose you spanked along w. your 2 horses. We were expecting Hen. tomorrow, but she is gone to be with Ellen Tollet for a few days between the departure of Meta & the arrival of Minnie, who is torn in two, as M^r Bridgeman's state is very precarious, & they are at Torquay— Poor Ellen is longing for this weary struggle to be over; but she rallies time after time in the most surprizing way—

She has 2 prof. nurses; so that I hope there will be nothing for Hen. to decide. Richard comes to us tomorrow to meet the Stanfords & another musical lady— I had a pleasant call from M^rs Lyttelton. She is so intimate w. the Gladstones I made her talk politics, not that she had any thing to tell me, except that she conjectured that Gladstone had at one time thought Home Rule possible & that now he had changed his opinion. She said the Gladstones were all quite happy about Miss G's marriage which shews them to be very unworldly— She also told me that Eliza Armstrong is safe at the Princess Louise home & that her father has been settled in a house w. a set of new brushes. M^r Stead was very happy in his imprisonment, as he wanted a rest—

Ida is going on well now, & went a drive, which she liked only she was too hot

Maud & the baby are well & have been dining at the Lubbocks, when Lady L. was v. gracious, so that I suppose her manners are improving— Ella Du Puy & Gwen come here on Tuesday for 2 days, while G. & Maud are at Leos.

It is very puzzling about a present for Bessy— I don't suppose you mean any thing so expensive as a trinket, of which she has all sorts of lockets: I believe she would like a ring best, or a gold bracelet— of other things I can only think of quite a small despatch box such as she would take for travelling, with no divisions in it.

Some time I think it would be well to let her know roughly how rich she is; as her ideas are rather dark, & I believe she considers her fortune is included in her banking book,— I never feel that Maud's going is quite certain, esp. if George sh^d continue so unwell— Bessy is quite firm

Best love to Sara yours | E D P. S. I see I have not answered you about the sofa— It was I believe from Heal— about the board I can give you no information, except that I have no doubt it was many years old, as he always kept things so long—