From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [2 February 1889]

My dear William

I dare say Ida has been too busy to write to you. Horace is having a mild & tedious feverish attack. It began almost the day they left you, & he had constant headache at Adhurst which ended in a very bad one at Bry S^q. He has been in bed since he came home & is better, but not quite free of feverishness.

He likes his food (& being read to) & yesterday he was to have fish— & quinine. His illness rather points to malaria, which w^d be a g^t misfortune if it can be laid to the charge of the Orchard. Today we are to have Leonard & Bee— He, as you know, was ill at Laura's— but has been at the office this week— Frank & Bessy & you are the only well ones of the family, & I seem to be always thinking of health. We had a nice visit from the Hookers Sir J. most jolly— Reggie was off & on w. us & very useful in convoying Grace. It was pleasant to see those 2 twittering together like love birds. The Dyers need not lament the tyranny & neglect of Lady H. to her step children. Grace is as comf. & happy w. her as possible— only I wish she had a prettier dress— girls are all in drab now instead of bright pink & blue (wh. w^d suit G's delicate complexion). The Georges stayed 2 days w. the Herbert Normans (& liked them) for G.^s lecture

There was a Miss Beadon w. them, in danger of losing her eyesight. She seemed to be too young for Sara's friend— George delivered his lecture with ease & satisfaction (M^r Woodhouse told Bessy) but she was there, & observed it herself— B. has had a nice letter from Theodora, chiefly telling her of poor Ella Du Ray who means to continue at Boston & try to work in spite of her feeble health. Theo. has invited her to Cambridge; but she was in her bed after the grief of her sister's death, & the worry of settling for herself what to do—

I send you an interesting letter from M^rs Kitchener (wife of the schoolmaster at Newcastle) about Clement's death. We have heard no more since.

Will the Commission never come to an end? They seem to me to have proved everything twenty times over—

Have you read "Emily Crawford's" w. of Zola in the Contemp. Who is she? I think there can be but one M^rs Crawford who is so well acquainted w. Zolas writings & proced. of the fact— I think it v. mischivous & will set people on reading him, when they find he is a respectable man taking care of his parents & not a regular Satyr— I am reading his one proper novel "Le Rève" but I find it v. dull, without a twinge of nature in it— I hope you are done w. L. H. P. business

my love to my dear Sara—- yours dear W. | E. D—