From Elizabeth Darwin to H. E. Darwin6 September [1868]

Dear Henrietta

What splendid weather you are having for your tour, that is if it is as fine with you as it is here. Yesterday the expedition to [Knowl] took place—it went off very well and the boys liked it very much although they went rather with the spirit of a martyr. One of them was to have ridden over on the horse only unfortunately it was lame so they could not. Alice Mr Lee Smith and Mr Norton were to have gon[sic] in the coach but every place taken so they had to go by train.

Georg Frank young Mrs Norton and I went in the carriage. Mrs Morton talked unceasingly the whole time and could scarcely be got to look about her at al al— though everything looked very pretty. We saw a very curious thing a whirlwind of sand it was going round in a circle when first we saw it and then it went up in a thin column for a good height into the sky and looked most odd. When we got to Sevenoaks we went to the inn and waited for the coach and were very much astonished when it arrived without the others, however in about half an hour they came in a fly. I forgot to say that Goldwin Smith came too—when he is not speaking he looks a most melancholy forbidding looking man but when he smiles he brightens up wonderfully Mr. [Jon] Smith is a very dismal looking man too. Of cours we had to go and the see the house first, and I hope I may never to see it again those old pictures are so tiresome. I remembered the houskeeper's face very well. We then sat down and eat our lunch part of which we had borught and part th larters it cheered us up wonderfully after the depressing affects by the hous. The park looked very pretty and it was very pleasant wandering about and sitting down—very often. Alice makes a capital head— and the drive home in the cool of the evening was nice.

Mr and Mrs Norton and Goldwin Smith are coming to lunch today. And on thursday we are going to have a dinner party— Mamma invited Mr and Mrs Reed and Langum hoping that Langum wodnt come so we are flabergasted to hear today that Mr Reed cant come but Mrs R and Langum will. She asked Mrs and Mr harry Lonum Carter but we have not heard from them yet. Horace came home yesterday very grimy and dirty seems to have a very jolly time, and Pouter is here too. The garden looks very pretty today, and the petunias quite beautiful as Mamma particularly desires you should be told. Mamma is going to have your children today so that they may not go back in their reading, and perhaps if she wants to go to church next Sunday ⁠⟨⁠perhaps⁠⟩⁠ I shall take them. We asked Rose and Mabel to come here but of course the unfortunate Mab could not leave her lessons and Rose will not come without her.

Monday

Today is hotter than ever I never knew such wonderful weather. Uncle Ras does not mean to go to the Hensleighs I believe which seems a pity. I don't know whether you were at home when a letter came from William saying that he had given up the idea of buying the house we saw—as he had taken a builder to look over the house who declared it was badly built and was not worth the price asked or it and that he might build a house to suit him much cheaper, and have a very good chance of selling it again. If this is stale news I hope you won't mind—it is not so bad at any rate as Mamma telling you all about Colonel Mouligni  I should think you must be pretty tired of the dear man.

Goodbye dear Henrietta  I hope you will have a good ⁠⟨⁠fun⁠⟩⁠ which you are sure to have. I envy you awfully.

Yours | E Darwin

It is rumered tha Mr Hingston at Farnborough has been killed by a sunstroke  I hope we shall hear today whether it is true.