From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [18 April 1866]

My dearest Body

Your last was much more comf. & I do hope poor Elinor has continued to improve. I certainly shall feel a good deal easier if you stick to her.

How enchanting the walks are. I was a little prudish about ""Young Rob"" but supposed he was so very young it was all right. However when I met with his parasol I twigged. I suppose it was that sort of want of tact that put the Tollets so out of patience with Miss I. But they thought her most wonderfully conceited. I dare say that is gone off. I heard from Sophy about the wedding at 9.30 in the m^g. 4 bridesmaids in pink & white, 2 Miss Owens & 2 Miss Ws. A cheerful breakfast & then off to Malvern. Poor Aunt S. very feeble & done up but thought sh c^d now repose— Not a word how they like Major O. or the Miss O's. which was dull of Sophy. Today is really fine & the grass & Holwood Park the most brilliant green I ever saw after all this rain. I went out 1/4 of an hour yesterday in Horace's carriage before he went to school. I hope we shall go to Q. A. on Friday Horace succeeded in turning quite a pretty little candlestick. M^r Barrat gave him some lelssons. Lizzy met M^lle at Bromley yesterday & called at Ravens. in her way home to see Snow, who however had very charateristically suddenly taken it into her head to go to Lady Inglis's for a few days, which I dare say was equally tiresome to Lady I. & to M^rs B. C. I mean the sudden change of plans. Lizzy got thro' her call very well. M^rs B. C. saw her in the dining room & Sibella came to fetch her in to see the baby very civilly. I dare say his presence had driven away Snow. Poor M^r Harry was there with his face tied up in a boil & very gracious about G. which he felt as a Trinity man. It is very good for Lizzy being on her own hook. M^lle. has given her plenty to do & will be a good bustling teacher. W^m. has had the influenza too without being quite laid up. He has had Strictland for a week. He is very fond of S. (By the way M^rs B. C. repeated to Lizzy that Miss Julia said you were their ""guardian angel"" I think it must be better for you that Elinor exhales a little to you tho' you can't do ditto to her. M^rs B. C. did not seem uneasy about Elinor but that is her way. G. will tell you of his induction & how the old master who was doing the job was nearly wishing them all many happy returns of the day, but turned it off. I have heard again from M^r Murray: poor Brodie's relief after hearing form me only lasted 2 days & then the old notion returned, which is very sad. He spoke as if her habit was to sit in her window watching for the post. I am thinking of informing her nephew. Can you tell me his address. I made Anne write to tell about G. The only thing we can do is to write pretty often. Papa will very soon have done the Origin.

Goodbye my dear. yours E. D.

Poor Harry Hawk. has failed again in Little go I believe. I wish they w^d take the poor boy away. The Kempsons are at Barlaston which will be good for Louisa. Cicely is there very happy & well too.