From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin 18 December [1889]

My dear W.

I was v. glad to have your letter & to find it was pleasantly settled w Fr. I have sent on the letter signed— I am going on well & mean to sit part of the day in another room properly warmed—

Horace is getting over his drawback; but his temp. is still a little too high—

M^r Humphrey saw him on Sat. having been away a week & thought him a good deal fatter—

Bessy was put off from the Thorleys just as she was putting herself off—

She dined at the Protheros on Monday & had a little talk w. M^rs P. about the medium— who sold her somethings unknown to any one in Cam— She was so upset she c^d not sleep all night, & she will be v. foolish if she goes again—M^rs— is now staying at the Sedgwicks, who will conduct investigations in a deft manner—

Leonard saw H. only once on that Sat–wh. was disappointing. I hope Hen will come today.

My best love to my dear Sara I was v. glad to hear of her doing things in London, as I was afraid she w^d have been knocked up by her care for me—

Bessy enjoyed her visit heartily. Miss W@s good spirits infects her as Effie's used to do. My cought is nothing but I have not got to like my food yet— Good M^r Carver does not come today— We had so little to say last time that we were driven to talk of D^r Cronin (I am so glad they are convicted. I suppose Illinois means never to execute again)

yours E. D.

Notes et Souveniers de Halery is a most interesting & amusing 1 vol.

Also Tolstoi Souveniers d'enfance— Poor old Bernard has had all his fun cut off w Willy Clark; but he has been consoled by the "Woman in White". D^rs are dreadfully troublesome now-a-days— They say we must have all our milk boiled & The Orchard & the Grange give up having it.—

The cows have been examined & pronounced perfectly well; but as long as Bernard & Hen are here I will obey strictly—(not that B. will touch the boiled milk—) M^rs Bromwich is dreadfully aggrieved.

Here is a sharp frost & I feel it wholesome—

yours my dear William | E. Darwin

I have always felt that there was hardly reason enough for Ellen to go so far leaving a young child; & that a half measure might have been enough, & this fright will I am afraid have counterbalanced the good— She has felt strong but w. frequent headaches at S^t Moritz— Blazing sun for a fortnight.

What a pleasant letter of Aunt Grace—

I am glad Lucy is better.