From Francis Darwin to H. E. Darwin[February 1870]

Dear Retta

I am going to Cam on Tuesday so I will jerk (some) reworks before I go. effie has gone away, she was gorgeous fun, the usual thing was she would talk away & we would sit round & look () & laugh. She sang very sweetly but owing to her lungs jibbing she couldnt do any jolly rows, she knocked the public at the (). Thompronics read, we () mightly sniffed () after he had housed forth nice, his second go was a short poem of Southey, which he really didn't read so badly only he nearly came in pieces with his own coyness: his face is more awful than ever—it reminds me of a model in dough of a rhinoceras's skin, I never saw a mans () to dewlap so much  There was also a fearful comic man in a velvet coat & autigropelos gaitey. Pouter goes to Woolwich tonight (Sunday) & is going to write instantly as to whether he is a responsible or subdivisioner—A respons is the greatest swell—with gold lace & a sword. He went hunTing yesterday, he looked a fearful swell in a tall hat & white tops; he got fearfully dirty & came a cropper. I have been beagling lately but am going for a farewell fox hunt on Monday. Pouts came out beagling our morning & didnt eat anything before he went the result was wh he caught us he looked quite like the party who brought up Prians hot water. Mother is full of Henry Lubbocks grief at having to live in London, she thinks M^rs H is forcing him much against his will, I expect they will both end by hating each other. I think him not quite such a fool as did before. I cannot hump any more, & I think filling it up with hot water is bad so I will subside

Your effec | Fr Darwin

A haze of melancholy hangs over Waggins & we feel sure it is for u, & then u say you havent even tears in your eyes "think of it drink of it disulute man". She stood up most respectfully all through the lesson at prayers with her hands on James' knees. Her doting Granpa gives he biscakes fearfully at tea—