From Emma Darwin to Sara Darwin 28 March 1896

My dear Sara

I hear you have found a comfortable house in your old neighbourhood, which has the great advantage of quiet.

We have had a comf. 2 days of Leo & B— She is proud of his being so fat & well & she is also quite well— They were sending out little addresses of thanks (She to her Lady helpers) & he to his men friends.

Ida went to London to see her father & Effie— He is very much dismayed at the Egyptian expedition, & Leo– thought Go^vt must have some strong reason they have not avowed; & now they are likely to have S. Africa on their hands— Leonard took away Lady Derby's friends proposition about a seat to consider a little longer— She thought it a great pity Leo sh^d tie himself up from accepting any thing else before the Gen. Election, & so did L. but he thought some compromise might be possible—

All that was told about the seat is that it it is agricultural in the W. of England— The Georges are very comf at Down— He cycled to join Maud at an American friends' near Bletchley & they all (M^r & M^rs Fletcher by name) returned to Down—

I send Snow's letter (to be burnt) I am glad that she has a 3^rd ed. of the Moral ideal in view— I wonder whether she will be able to make it any clearer—

I saw Ida & Horace yesterday & the embargo is quite taken off—

I suppose the great damages against D^r Playfair shew that he is thought to have behaved dishonourably or contrary to prof-etiquette in this affair wh. is making so m. noise. I know a patient of his who thinks him a great brute. Did I tell you how m. I liked Leo Masse— He looks very ill; but it may partly be his very white complexion— He talks in earnest—

I enjoy the company of the Canary birds from the Grange— They are very happy & enjoy life–- & spend a good deal of time flying about the room; but they are not nearly so pretty or amusing as Hen's Bullfinch—

My best love to William

This is an answer to a letter of yours— but I think we are both above considering whether we owe a letter or not

E. Darwin