From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [15 August 1864]

Who did I write to yesterday? It does not much signify.

Both your letters are very nice & make me quite understand the place. It was at Ilfracombe that M^me^ d'Arblay was shut up by the sea in a cave— It will do you both a great deal of good to to take your work & listen to Gibbon.

M^rs Hills has been very ill with an attack of Cholera but I hope it is over.

A defensive letter to M^r Wilson has been sent me from the man at Margate. I am afraid Mary has acted like a spoilt child. It appears she managed to get to the sea twice & there was a place under the trees where she c^d sit. There was roast beef for dinner. However there was certainly great neglect & dirt in the arrangements.

Granny is confined & I have ordered a young Phist to be saved. Tommy is twice as big as M^rs Woods Billy & catches mice with g^t éclat.

M^rs Spengle brought him to the gate to shew the maids.

I think Papa is as well as before his attack but we have not heard from D^r Jenner yet.

George is going up to take my appoint^mt at M^r Woodhouse today. Old Duke is dead & M^rs Fleming so ill that I am going up to see after her Goodbye my dear. I am glad Hen is taking to sketch.

n. 13. bathe not baith