From Elizabeth Darwin to H. E. and Emma Darwin 5 February [1870]

Dear Henrietta

I am very glad indeed that you are going this tour with Godfrey and Amy, I suppose you will never get my last letter as it was sent to Cannes, that is to say not for weeks. Effy and Sow both came on Tuesday, Snow I must say I was sorry to see. I always feel as if nobody was talking to her enough so she is always a weight on my soul. Effy is very jolly indeed in spite of a bad cold which would make most people feel quite stupid. She sang five songs at the penny reading, one was ""() he come"". I think she was a good deal admired but it is difficult to say. We came half an hour late which was a good plan it would have been too awful having to hear it all. Mr Thomson read not badly, but made very coy faces over the back of his book at the people and nodded in such a very expressive way. I must say I don't think Mr Powell manages the penny reading well, he does not take care that the subjects suite each other. For instance we had two irish stories about a gridiron which was rather too much of a good thing, and one man had such a voice that it nearly cracked our heads in tow. Snow went back to London today, but Effy is going to stay one ore day, which I am very glad of she is such a refreshing person to have in the house it is like taking a mountain walk. Yesterday Elinor came to dinner and George came down from London so we were a good large party. We have been talking about our swiss tour with Effy, she says she will come with us and take care of us if we will promise to obey her in everything, but of course she wont really. Poor Mamma's conscience is rather uneasy at thinking she ought to ask Lucy or Sophy to go with us, but she says she shall not think of asking them because it would make the boys grown too awfully. It is very delightful looking forwards to it, and I think it is pretty certain now, as Frank and Lenny are much pleased at the idea.

Friday

Your pleasant letter came this morning, but you would much improve the plesantness of your letters if you would number your sheets. You see the reign of bad ink is still going on  I despair of our ever having decent ink. Poor Horace has gone back to Southwold he went on Wednesday rather low. Lenny goes on Sunday Frank on Monday. Two or three days ago, Frank's hors fell with him and hurt his leg but he is all right now and he and Lenny were out beagling this morning, and seem to have very poor sport. Mis Barrellier has such vague ideas about hunting, she thought people took guns with them and kept inquiring whether Lenny had caught anything. On Monday I am going to Cumberland Place to stay a few days and to go to a play with them on Tuesday which will be very pleasant. Last Saturday George and I dined at the Bonham Carters and had a very quiet party only Elinor and Alice and a Mr Brice, I was very glad Hugh was not there or the Harry Bonham Carters. All Sunday the boys skated at Holdwood, they met the young Cecils there, Lady Mary skated well for a girl they said. Now the weather has quite changed it is quite spring like so mild and warm. I was very nearly forgetting to tell you that Polly has been shut up for teen days, but yesterday was let lose again. I am sure Papa felt her confinement more than she did, he consoled himself by leading her out by a string every day after coffee. She bore her fate very well and did not even try to resist when she was being put back in her stable.

It is very odd that abroad should make you so well, we saw your letter to Eliinor with the caracter of Amy, we all agree with it except in her being self sufficient  I shuld have though that she was rather a humble person than the contrary but Effy thinks you mean the other kind of self suffiency that is wanting nothing that you have not got. I hope you will get this letter I hate writing to empty air and these post (restantes) seem rather ticklish things.

How very young poor Lilly is to being with consumption, as I suppose having her lungs touched means consumption.

The servants' ball had to be put off as Parslow had gout again, so they are going to have it next next Wednesday instead.

Goodbye dear Henrietta | I will see whether Mamma will finish this sheet | Your's Bessy

The first part of your paper has come out in Scientific Opinion. I have not seen how it looks—I am sorry about Cecil but I hope Godfrey will not hurry home, or he will get little good.

F. ordered a matrimonial alliance on a very small seale for P. to shorter her imprisoned. The gent is small & I believe handsome. If she nurses it will keep off the evil day so much longer. I have been sending some of your description to Aunt F. how lucky about Corsica. F. enjoyed the thought of his first walk with P. quite as m. as she herself wd have done. I heard the maids at the window laughing at her poodling & antics after she was first let loose.

Well goodbye my dear | E.D.

How nice and well you are, I don't wonder you enjoy abroad—

We have all been singing Effie's praises—Snow was nice but looks quite ill.