From S. E. Wedgwood? to H. E. Darwin 19 January 1867

My Dear Henrietta

I was glad to see M's account of Lena– & I think it a very exact one, & it shows that they liked her as far as a two days acquaintance went. The letter is safe burnt. I have no patience with any one of the party about the ball. Edmund would much rather not have goone & he does not believe any of them wanted to go. He is gone now to the Massingberd's house. I cant believe Lena wont be let to go to Down & I am sure she would like it very much—we have been rather disappointed to get no letter from C. Place since Sunday—this being Wednesday—but the last account was so very much better that we feel confident now of no news being good news—& this change in the weather is such a safeguard against his falling back again. I hope it has been very useful as well as the billiard table in helping you thro' your party. The frost has never been below 26—here & has not even killed the Gazanias. Jessie came in yesterday—Harry was already here—to go the private theatricals—which were far from private, for the night before the room was filled by the tradesman & servants of all Tenley, & last night as full of the gentry. I heartiy disapprove of the young ladies who made themselves so public. The gentlemen all acted much better than I expected. & I was glad that Arthur did not act his vulgar part vulgarly. Medea was one, in which he looked horrid—& the whole piece was detestable—so it was to my surprise that Mr Tennyson was heard to say it was the best piece performed. The other pieces were surely broad farce. I was glad Aunt Fanny did not go, for she could not have seen or heard. Alice went with us & is coming to dine today. I like her very much. She says that she think Elinor would have gone & joined Effie only that she cannot while Alice is away. We hear we dont know how, that you & Hope are both going. I am glad Alice will meet Harry & Jessie here today as she has been twice here with only me besides Aunt Fanny. Tell your mother that I have ascertained from the tombstone that Uncle John died in 1844—& Eliza in Sept. '59. Jessie has sent on her other questions to Robert. I liked Venitian life very much—he has a good deal of humor.

Goodbye, & thank you for writing—your aff JEW