From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [21 January 1889]

My dear William

You have had one or two lovely days for your guests, & I went out in my chair— I hope the Leos. are returned home today, as he was down-stairs on Sat. & going on quite well— Leo fails so often in health that I sometimes fear whether he will be able to continue his office life—

They were much troubled at inflicting a sick guest on Laura, especially just after she had had little Morgan ill on her hands & tho' she made light of it, I am afraid it was too much for her— She was all packed up to come here leaving the L's there when a sore throat came on & she has given it up. Bessy & I have been reading George's lecture in M. S. & it has given me some glimmering; but I am afraid it is too long. We had Eras. & Ruth to dinner on Sat— He got up to whisper an injunction to Ruth to take only $\frac{1}{2}$ a mince pie— which she meekly obeyed. They came over yesterday for some reading aloud from Bessy— They like the prosaic Abbott stories very much— Bernard goes tomorrow. G's new little dog is as charming as ever Button was— The baby sits down close to him turning his back & putting his hands behind to seize him He is quite fearless tho' Pepper bites him in play— G. & Maud go to the Herbert Normans on Thursday for his lecture— & Bessy goes to K. Square— Hen. manages to go about a little— such as going to part of a concert— & seeing Ellen Tollet—

The Lushington girls have been paying a visit at Forthill. M^rs Morrison (is she the Pills I wonder) comes to p. m tea in white satin & diamonds— The guests do not see her till luncheon when they assemble in the dining room & she sweeps in like royalty w. her 7 footmen & her butler M^r Lovell, who is brother to Ida's Agnes & Hen's Susan's.

We don't hear what M^r Morrison does.

The death of M^rs Jane Smith makes a sad break up at Embley—

Yours my 2 dear ones | E D—

I am very easily overtired & take precautions—