From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [2 November 1887]

My dear William

M^rs J. W. C. was a Miss Buchanan & her father was at several courts— & of good family. She is the smoothest of women, tho' with plenty of feeling, & bears with all. J. W's troublesomeness with the greatest equanimity. He is like a child but affectionate & so she has not much to bear—

She is very good to her mother-in-law, who is about 86— & cannot bear being read to or reading herself— or driving out or doing any thing but playing back gammon which she does sometimes for 7. hours together. with relays of antagonists.

She used to model flowers in a wonderful way, & I dare say she still knits—which used to be one of her accomplishments—

Bessy enjoyed some pleasant drives at Malvern & the country was in perfection. Hen is certainly better— She is being rubbed to a very slight degree—

She had M^rs Juke after Bessy left— Abomilec assured M^rs J. that he w^d be dead before her return & took a solemn leave of his son, who came for one day's holiday— He is in exactly the same state & devotes all his energies to inventing methods of begging

I have not seen Horace since Sunday when he looked well & happy w. Ras & Ruth at his heels— He might hear from Ida any day, or not for another week— This uncertainty is a great blemish in the place, & they w^d have to depend on the telegraph in any necessity for haste. Lady Thompson envies Ida for going there—

She has a brother a M^r Blandy settled as wine & fruitgrower at Grand Canary & she believes he is successful— Claud has an introduction to him—but Horace is very hopeless about his doing any good.

Bernard is top of the Latin class & pretty high up in cricket. His letters sound happy & busy, & he seems to read to himself too—

Frank is going to Oxford to see him next Saturday—

Horace was very happy at Bassett. He was so pleased with his machine that he was almost sorry to find that the reservoir did not leak—

Nelly Du Puy set out to Liverpool on Monday— She was within an ace of missing her train, & as it was, had to leave settling her over weight of luggage to follow her— It was not her fault however, Maud had Gwen with her, which did not improve matters—

George has been very patient about her visit, but is glad to have Maud to himself. Nelly is a very discreet person, but utterly dull & without interests, except for lawn tennis & such, & her singing.

Bessy has had rather a sad letter from Ella—She is settled at Boston in a flat with her married sister & feels rather solitary. I am going to ask Theodora to be kind enough to call on her—

She has one or 2 commissions in the way of her business, & does a little household work— Her brother is prosperous & most generous in helping them. Maud tells me the sister is also a very attractive person— My love to my dear Sara— yours dear W.

E. D