From Margaret to H. E. Darwin [September 1864]

My dear Henrietta

Having a rainy afternoon before us, I have time to write to you. I hope your broken heart has healed by this time, and that your much pondered journey was prosperous. We did miss you and Edmund so sorely during our last day at Shrewsbury. Poor Aunt Susan, was unfortunately very unwell on Wednesday and unable to see much of Ellen Tollet.

We came here on Thursday evening—and on Friday morning went the Strid and [Bordeu] Towers, Drive etc: I suppose you did the same when you were here  What a delightful place it is, with such variety of beautiful views—I think this flat meadow by the river with beautiful trees, and this Deer park above is perfect  At the Abeey we have been making Papa give us a little Architectural information—it fortunately contains Early English perp; & [clee]: and Papa has given us over too elementary rules.

We stay here till Monday, but they say that on Sunday the horrid Duke shuts us out of the pretty wood walks  We positively have not learnt by experience to tell the truth yet, and steadily told untruths thro'the whole journey, The consequences were grievous for we were driven, in a horrid dirty omnibus, to the wrong station at Manchester, and forthwith had to park ourselves humbly in a cab and retire to the right station, a mile off—I suppose we shall be impossible even after this lesson—We are spending all our time in sending one another to look at the weather, in hopes of going for a little drive— *P [drawing] *Q

I think we are going so I hope to finish this letter tomorrow. I want a letter so will you kindly write within a day or to

Post Office Worksop.Nottinghamshire Where I think we are on Thursday

I shall be grateful if you will make such an exertion, and tell how your spirits are, and whether you dare strum over any of the beloved oratorios I wish it had happened that we had been quite quiet after them, for I am afraid all this routing about, will drive some of it out of our heads at all events, I should much like to look at the books with a piano-forte.

It is a great pity having such rainy weather here, but really have been very little kept in by it, and the lights when they do come, are so wonderfully pretty

I have not even yet ascertained where we are going, but I believe on Monday we do Fountains Abbey do you know it.

Goodbye dearest Henrietta | Yours ever | Margaret

P.S. You will be relieved to hear that Roberto's slumbers were not disturbed by our last vigil—Oh dear how nice it was having you all to ourselves—