From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [11 June 1864]

My dear Body

While waiting for yr letter I will give you a bit of journal Thursday & yesterday were very good days with Papa tho' he is very uncomf & torpid in the mgs. On Thursday M^rs B. Carter called just at tea time & sat with us. She said she was going to have M^rs Devas to tea & asked me to come. I declined but the next day finding that Snow w^d like a drive we set out at 7 after our tea to pay her a call. M^rs D. was gone which was all the pleasanter & so Snow had a talk with Miss Hanson her old Schoolfellow & M^rs B. C. & I walked about & she was very pleasant & shewed me one dingy Verbascum in flower. I hope you have this enchanting weather to shew off the pretty place. Yesterday I went in the big woods with Snow & it was very pretty & sweet with willow wrens & black caps all about. She is going tomorrow & tho' I like talking with her very much I am rather glad because it will be such a good breaking in for taking his meals downstairs. I have much enjoyed yr letter. I am so glad you are such a Hercules.

I am rejoiced to hear that Aunt C. is much better & going home today. I have felt very uneasy about her.

Duberry sticks to going I am glad to say & as he is not going to service again we shall not have any plague about a character. We have heard of one who sounds promising & I shall insist on his obeying Parslow. I believe I am going to Bromley with Snow to buy maid's carpet &c— I will send y^r boots.

goodbye my dearest body | E. D.

Papa has had a very nice grateful letter from John Scott quite satisfied as indeed he may well be. You had better make one account of the wedding do for all—