From Elizabeth Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [September 1879]

Dearest Henrietta,

Thank you for your nice long letter. Well mother has actually sent off her invitation to Ida, here is almost the exact copy of what she wrote. I don't believe Effy has accepted the fact at all that when people are in love they are absorbed, & that though unpleasant to the bystanders it must be borne. Uncle Ras wrote about something or other to Father & in it he said that Effy was coming on Saturday to stay a few day before going off on Tuesday or Wednesday with Mr F, he really thought more for her sake than for his Uncle Rase's & that she spoke as if life was not worth having, so it shows what a state she is in that she cannot keep back her misery from anyone. Aunt Fanny looked very miserable too so I believe Effy must have been pouring out to her. I forgot to tell about my night of Aunt Fanny which was very awful much worse than anything else as she tried to pump me & make out whether Laura had known about Ida caring for Harace. I had to tell a story but I did it with so little courage that I am sure it would not take her in. I wish the Farrers could hear Uncle Frank's congrats, he said well I think Ida a very lucky girl, & then as an after thought though I daresay Ida is a very nice girl, & he said if he saw Mr Farrer he should tell him he wished he had half of his complaint.

I did like my visit at the Shaens very much, I have got quite intimate with Margaret, & saw a good deal of Mrs Shaen who is wonderfully kind & even affectionate to me. I wish I could like the men of the family, & Lily I find very untaking  I keep thinking of Lizzie Turnbull

Uncle Jos & Sophy came yesterday, Sophy is just as usual neither more nor less cheerful, they are just gone to call at Aunt Elizabeth. Yesterday Snow and Alice B C came to lunch & they have booked the unfortunate Frank to go to dine at Ravensbourne to meet Hugh. However we thought Frank would quite rebell but when we passed on the invitation he took it as mild as poss. Sophy really does like seeing Ubadubber. This morning I asked him to kiss me & made the rather foolish remark that drummers always kissed people. And after he had kissed me he said the drummer on the lawn didn't that's a funny thing. He had Alice Miles to tea yesterday & they had great larks with all the maids marching. He was very pleased the other day at having learnt the expression as far as I remember. I asked him whether he had seen Alice Miles, he said as far as I remember she was asleep & kept repeating it over & over.

Father was very bad yesterday with a giddy fit which he has not had for so long he walked quite unsteadily. But seems all right today.

Your's | Elizabeth Darwin