From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [5 September 1868]

Dearest Body

I have just got y^r letter which puts one in spirits from its spirit of enjoyment in spite of your cold. Goulet sounds perfection. Well to return to journal. Wed. Lizzy & I, dropping Frank at the pools went thro' Holwood & called on Mrs B. C. & had a pleasant sit with her (She was seeming quite well tell El.) & heard about the Sat. scheme for Knole. So we called at Keston on our way home to settle things. The little lady just coming from London so clean & pale & pretty not flushed & dusty as some of us w^d have been. We staid a short time & were introduced to the mother who I thought very pretty.

Yesterday Papa went to lunch at Keston & came back charmed with them all, he thought he & the pretty lady w^d never have done shaking hands. Goldwin Smith very agreeable which he had formerly not found him to be. The lunch was humble, I can't think why, to such a degree, as mutton chops can be cooked by the most ignorant. A few slices of cold veal & some raw cold mutton on the side board, not even potatoes. I was very glad he c^d go. He felt done up having given Lett. a jobation for idleness which always disagrees. Lizzy & I meanwhile went to Ravensbourne to consult Alice about food, but Mrs B. C. & she were in town—so we trusted to our own genius & I am sure we have provided enough—chicken & ham elegantly cut up & in little packets. Nice little veal pies ditto separate so that every body gets a whole little package which does for a plate. Rolls—cake puffs & gingerbread. Lizzy deeply interested that every thing sh^d be right. A great job it was & they are just set out. Unluckily the spanking mare is a little damaged & so George has ridden the pony to Green St green & there hopes to get on the coach, if not they must squeeze him into the carriage— The boys have been riding & having a little croquet but it is almost too hot for that, & after dinner G. & Lizzy do almost an hour of Hermann & Dorothea.

Horace comes today. His letters have been few & dull but I am sure he must have enjoyed himself this lovely weather. A letter from Ed. to you which makes us think Jackdaw too precious to have; & he says he w^d not like her to be ridden by a man. f. (stands for Papa) thinks it quite too dangerous to have him. The boys shooting is fallen through as the Langtons do not find it worth while to keep gamekeeper &c for so short a season as, with a longish visit at Gunby in Sep. & going abroad themselves in Oct, it w^d be. (they w^d want Goulet by the 20^th in Paris if that w^d do.). He also says Jackdaw rears at windmills ever so far off which w^d be inconvenient in the this country. How odd my sending you a prose about the little Col. whom you saw. His dinner was good but not in proportion to his lunch. His breakfast I think was best of all—beefsteak, ham & finishing with an egg. J. did not think him worth knowing tho' nice. We packed him off early.

A letter from Mrs Cameron but not near so Cameronian as her notes used to be. You shall have it saved but it is 4 sheets & w^d cost 10^d & is not worth much. I have sent it to Uncle Ras & I shall again tell him to come, now it is hot & so many boys. I fancy he is not going to Rotha Bridge. A note to ask you to dine & meet ""my Uncle and Aunt from Staff."" again with Mrs Christy which of course I declined. Rose does not come as she wont leave Mabel who is going again to Miss Buob & much the wisest plan too. Poor old Duberry is not dead yet. Lizzy & I are going to undertake Woods but not Charley, who will do very well till you come home. It is wonderful how not troubling ones head about any thing in luggage &c saves fatigue. Whenever the family tour takes place you must have Goulet & no doubt she c^d dress Lizzy's hair.

Anne loaded with smart caps for her m. is gone with Esther. I am afraid we shall lose her soon as she thinks [illeg] employment is permanent. There never was such luck as your having another summer— Therm. 73 or so—

Miss Norton said she expected to find all the English perfectly well & walking miles & miles. She is rather disappointed in both particulars.

Well Goodbye my dear we are very comf. & well | yours E. D.

my best love to El.

Sat morning still blazing & hot & such monlight evenings with the window open