From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [23 July 1888]

My dear W^m

We returned from Abinger on Friday. Every thing was most pleasant there except the rain which left us only one fine day— Effie was most cordial & charming, & we had one day of Hope, coming the day of Cecil's wedding. I believe she feels his loss very bitterly for herself, & also as a cheerful element in the house— Godfrey being so often ill & depressed, & she having no spring of good spirits in her nature. At Fanny has taken a step downward, & did not stir off her sofa even to hear Effie's singing—

She is v. placid & affectionate & suffers much less pain.

I had a short Home Rule talk w. Sir Thomas, quite smooth of course, as I only wanted to hear his opinion & not give my own— He is not the least Gladstonian & thinks Ulster will be quite powerful enough to hold its own.

He believes the Parnell letters to be forgeries, wh. is wonderful in the face of P's objection to go to law. We have actually had 2 days together dry— & people could have carried their hay yesterday— Now the rain has come again— Sir T. went to see Col. Lewin's silos or rather packed bundles of hay— It is somewhat expensive & so he did not make the experiment now— One of his objections surprized me—viz. the great increased weight in comparison of dry hay, if it has to be carried any distance.

Bessy is v. sorry to miss our guests visit next Sat— as she was engaged to the Ritchies— We shall have Leonard & his wife.

We expect M^rs Arckoll & M^rs Seymour tomorrow if the weather is tolerable. That dismal Friday Miss Schröter gave a party to the whole grown up village— 150 sat down to tea. They had 2 Bands & danced on the lawn, you may imagine the state it was in afterwards. There was no rain however, so every one was pleased—

I saw the plan of Godfrey's new house— It is like the Orchard in style & just the size of the Grove— & they have reached the 1^st storey. A beaut view of Welch Hills & the Wrekin, but every thing near rather desolute, & not a cottage within $\frac{1}{2}$ a mile. Hope will find it a relief not to have 4 acres of pleasure ground on her hands— it is 3 miles from Barlaston across country by the Down Banks. The poor souls at the Chalet are always cold in the clouds & speak w. delight & surprise of one fine day.

Your Embly letter has just come— M^rs Clough is not the woman to rattle on & make things jolly—

D^r Moore w^d have been invaluable— I had quite forgotten how much a wet Summer interferes with cheerfulness as well as enjoyment. You must be quite tired of apologizing to your guests. I hope you had Athena Clough— She is v. merry when at ease, but is often shy—

Please return Ida—

Poor little Ras. regretting the days of his youth at 6 yrs old