From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [28 January 1887]

My dear William

I don't know which of us is the debtor but I take for granted it is I. We have had 2 or 3 delightful days & enjoyed going out but yesterday turned to a horried cold fog & I bustled in again, I find my throat is still rather sensitive—

We have Alice Hutcheson till tomorrow. We read aloud in the ev^gs & play Dumby whist. It is wonderful how she keeps her mind alert & cheerful leading such a very dull life with her stepfather, who however though silent & dry is a cultivated man—

Poor soul she is often very ill, & that fills up her time in a bad sense—She is a great reader too—

The Georges & Gwen come to us next Thursday, wh. I shall enjoy— to make sure of having the Grange quite warm—

Ida is a little troubled with a phase of naughtiness in both Ras. & Ruth— It puts me in mind of old days, though you were none of you naughty, I used to go into the nursery & find the children all peaceably amusing themselves, & my coming in was always the signal for uneasiness or peevishness— & it is just the same with Ruth, the sight of Ida, is sure to upset her temper. Rasmus discourses most impartially about himself to his mother. "I wonder what you had better do to make me better" Ida. I think I had better have you dine in the nursery, when you have been in a passion— "I think it would be better for me not to come downstairs & go to bed at 6 o'clock. So that is settled & w. good effect at present—

Ellen T's young companion Miss Ward, has been staying at the Chamberlaynes— I suppose you did not see her— Professor Agassiz is coming to Prof. Newton's & will come to us on Sunday p. m—

D^r Darwin used to say that every one ought to learn whist for old age; but I think "Patience" is better— When I have read enough I find a game of Patience resting & amusing & being so independent is such an advantage— I return The Atlantic Monthly which you left— You gave me Lowell's addresses as a present & not a loan I think. I am just beginning them & I shall like them. He is almost too brilliant—

I have actually set up a file for my letters & I find it a comfort. It is never too late to mend. The Victoria is very nice, but Sailor v. too big— & a good deal too slow— How interesting the papers will be— & will the Liberals behave decently about procedure— Gladstone & his followers have behaved so badly about the "Plan of Campaign"" that I have no great hopes— My best love to my dear Sara—

M^rs Creighton says that M^r Norton is the best mannered & most agreeable man she knows in the world & that no English can compare w. the Americans in manners— I have long thought Sara's manners the most perfect I know, but I hope a little bit of her may be to the credit of England. She thinks nobody good enough for Sally, as she told M^r Tilley—

yours my deare W | E D

I have been interested in the B. Wilberforce & Winton, & I am sure old W. W. w^d have sympathized w. his grandson— I have only skimmed the correspondence but I thought the ending of the Canon's letter quoting Arnold very effective—