From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [1? July 1887]

My dear William

Bessy's exped to Hartfield on Monday answered well & she returned w. G. & Maud on Tuesday— The Ridge is a charming place, full of flowers & the trees quite fine— The landlord of the Roebuck at Wych X had been educated at At Eliz. School & her place has fallen into kind hands who keep on employing old Bridger tho' almost past work— Bernard is very happy w. Gwen & they spend hours in the hay field, which is partly cut; but the machine is always failing & stopping work— Bessy & Bernard & Dicky went to Leaves Green to see Jackson— Bernard & Jackson retired to the garden & Bessy heard M^rs J's troubles. She is quite miserable & can't endure the life, tho' they have a barmaid—

Georg is going to see him & suggest his taking service in America, where a sober servant & not an Irishman is at a premium; but I am afraid M^rs J. will never agree—

I have been hearing the village quarrels from Miss Adcock & they are very lively— but the Band of Hope & grown up Temps. Soc. are quite prosperous. I fear the Langs are not going; but they are too sick to come this far—

The weather yesterday was black & cold; but changed to a beaut. evening—

George went up to the Tyndall dinner. He admired Lord Lytton's Speech, which does not read well— Tyndall's was too long, & egotitical as it c^d not fail to be. Did you see Lord Derby's mention of your father—

Yours my dear W— | E. D—

Think of my not telling you of Ernst's engagement I am glad of it tho' M^rs Webster has some common & coarse qualities. He is fond of the children & the little girl came in to announce it to At F— saying "I have got a new father" I believe she will have a very kind one. His old age w^d have been solitary & dismal—

The difficulty will be whether he can give up his club habits—

M^rs Webster has long been almost like a daughter to At F. who wished it much the last time I saw her—