From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin 29 December [1889]

My dear William

Bessy will have told Sara our anxiety on Thursday when M^r Hills decided that Frances had got scarletina—I was so thankful to have Hen. & Ida to settle what to do. They tel at once to Ellen & in a few hours there came the answer, saying that Frank was v unwell & she sh^d come alone. Soon after we rec^d another tel. that F^r was going on well & Miss Harrison w^d come w. her— Meanwhile Frances was getting better & we sent flocks of reassuring tels, to Chas & Bale & also to Frank— & M^r Hills says the disorder is in fact over— I am afraid it must have been bad for Ellen w. her weak heart to have such a fright—

Ellen is this mg on her way to Calais & will sleep in London— & come tomorrow mg. Leonard & Bee are here not v. well, either of them. Leo. sees a g^t deal of Horace & they even talk axles to their g^t pleasure. H. does not stand yet & feels as if his legs did not belong to him— He takes one solid meal & so is able to have fewer meals— I hope to see him today— We seem to have had nothing but illness to think of; but Hen. has been brisk & well. George & Maud are waiting till the children have got over slight feverish attacks before they move to you— I think the Boy must have something of Leo's temperament he is so comf. & placid while feverish— The river has been dredged just now, ce qui donne à penser— G. is better & has had no return since he began quinine.