From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [9 September 1868]

My dearest Body

Lizzy brought you up to Monday intensely hot above 80. The afternoon & evening charming & we stayed out till past tea. Tuesday was the grand match in the field & fortunately a cloudy day & high N. wind. The married against the single & the married won the day early. We sat & watched but it was really too cold. On Sunday mg. poor old Duberry died after 19 fits. I saw poor Amy who was quite calm till she spoke to him, & I dare say crying did her good. Today Horace is gone to London about clothes & he also meant to look up Lenny as he thought he had a $\frac{1}{2}$ holiday today. I am expecting every minute to hear of Aunt Eliz & Nip's arrival. Mrs Norton & Grace have just called & sat a very pleasant half hour, telling us a great deal about Dickens who seems a most kind & benevolent man; & among other things give away Port wine ad libitum; & invited all the soldiers from Chatham to a fête in his field where they all behaved perfectly. After a long $\frac{1}{2}$ hour Mrs N. started up to go as if she had forgotten some thing & said she had a little baby in the carriage. I thought of course with a nurse, but she had actually left a poor little innocent 2 years old by itself stuck up on the seat. I don't know what the flyman w^d have done if it had cried. It looked rather dismal but very glad to hug & kiss its naughty Mamma & it really has lowered my opinion of her. In the evening I went down to see A^t Eliz & found her not a bit tired of course & very cheerful. She cheered me too by telling me that probably F. F. will not be able to come to us after her stay with her as she has to go home to receive Mrs Rendel. She is also going to Lidwells & I am glad Louisa has asked her as indeed she ought to do, having staid months in F. F.s house. Barlaston seems more uncomf than ever, as in addition to F. F's discomforts & offences, she & Amy suit so badly now & Amy is sore about it & feels that her mother does not care for her. She is also low & morbid & I dare say takes fanny's fibs & exag. unreasonably to heart. She was much better for coming to Walcot, where Eliz had Cecil without Nanna to her great to her great satisfaction

Thursday. To day Mrs Harry & Mrs Clough come to our great satisfaction. We are greatly puzzled who Papa is to take in but Mrs Reed being old & poor (& ugly I might add) it had better be her.

George is quite unwell with a cold but we told him that if he took to his bed we sh^d every one do the same so he is a bit better. Mr Flower & 2 gents are coming this afternoon to see P. most mal à propos, but he is to go away after dinner & not sit.

Your pleasant letter is just come & I will do your message to Ed. & send the rest to Hope. Nip sat in his own basket during his travels just like a human being. He is rather handsome & not a day older these 15 years. I never felt such scorching sunshine as we had last week it quite burnt one. Today is charmingly bright & not too hot. I have got a decent dinner & we shall be well off for waiters, having W^m. of Q. A. & Miles also. Yesterday Horace went about clothes & also spent the afternoon with Lenny, who looked quite grand in his uniform which he has at last got. I am afraid we shall never see him before it is quite stale. Horace seemed quite impressed with him. They spent 2 hours together very happily, looking about &c. Horace was quite enchanted with his visit in Wales & wrote such a long Collins to Mrs Ruck I sh^d like to have seen it. Also he made some neat little yew studs & sent them in a little box of his own turning to Mss R—I sh^d like to get to know them. Mrs & Miss took all the walks with them & seem most happy & strong. An invite is come for Lizzy & boys to L. H. P. next week & they go on Tuesday for 3 or 4 days, at least F & Lizzy, G. is more doubtful. If it is this weather they will enjoy it.

Yesterday a wasp settled on f's face & put its proboscis into his eye to drink the moisture apparently. He got up very quietly from the sofa & stood looking at himself in the glass till the wasp moved, a sting on the eye ball w^d have been horrid. I quite agree that steaming on a lake is tiresome why I can't think. Sarah's jolliness may be fatiguing but has its advantages in being at ease with her &c. Uncle Ras was coming but had such a ""sweet little note"" from Effie he started straight off to the Lakes where he will be very happy  Mrs Pierce & little girl & W^m are here—

Well Goodbye my dear. Lizzy has been comf & well & enjoyed Knole—