From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin 28 September [1868]

My dearest Body

It is an age since I wrote  I have been so busy with L. H. P. You have sent us many nice letters & we feel quite up to all y^r doings. Yours to Frank is the last w. he felt quite dangerous to read in the same room as L. H. P. That sunset at Berne must have been grand. I don't wonder you were in a rage with the organ. Well I will go back to the beginning of things. Amy came on Monday from Orpington & it being a beautiful afternoon I dispatched her on the pony a ride with F. as soon as she had her coffee. She makes the pony go pretty well & enjoyed it as she always does. Frank is not so devoted as he was certainly. The next day she rode with G. & on Wednesday L. H. P. came. Poor A^t C. does look so ill & so depressed—A^t Eliz. & I agreed that her society is now the most depressing thing in the world unless you have her alone & then she talks about her real troubles & one can sympathize most heartily with her. Her health is so bad & she feels so desponding about her life & feels so utterly unable to reconcile herself to the loss of Margaret (no doubt owing to her health.) She is grown immensely large & feels so great a figure she can hardly bear to go any where. The last day she had a better night & was cheerful but on Sat. when Col. & Mrs Crofton came to spend the day from 2. to 6 I should have done better without her she was so sternly grave, tho' making efforts to talk & be agreeable. We had lunch at 2. & then I walked & sat out till the rain came, then we looked at photos & had coffee & at last the day got itself done. Col. Crofton is silent & handsome & deaf so he did not make us more cheerful. Mrs C. very pleasant & talky & I hope did not find it too long. f. pretty well but only came in with coffee. We sent G. Wood's mare & wag. for them & they had fly to return ^ w^d not stay dinner.

Amy, Mr Crotch & F. & L. H. P. girls took a walk to Holwood while they were here & had to rush back very quick. Mr Crotch who knows every thing in the world & is quite fatiguing in laying down the law, also knows how to jump young ladies over gates & stiles & he & Frank flew them over in some wonderful way by the elbows (Lucy thought herself too ponderous & w^d not try). Lizzy & Col. C returned by themselves as she was tired. Just as they were nearly going came the Nortons but I did not see them & I am going to be so good as to take Mrs F. to call there. She came to Eliz. Sat. stays till Wed. & then comes to us & stays till Sat. so it is all very merciful— Mr Crotch came Friday & Amy liked him very much & talked a great deal to him. He is very handsome & knows every thing & tells you every thing in a very indistinct way (not quite so bad or so incessant as Mr Blyth) They had curling every evening which did very well & a little instrumental music & fluting. Lucy played the Appassionata very well so I c^d sincerely say how improved she was. The slow part she did not manage well as she cannot be delicate.

They are all struck with Lizzy's improvement in animation & talk & she enjoyed being somebody & actually sat & chatted with Amy at night. Sophy talked very tidily with Mr Crotch. Yesterday Sunday I got up thinking what a horrid tiresome day it w^d be with all these men & boys about. (Billy Ruck was here) but they behaved beautifully, setting out at 10 in the mg. to Lullingstone & remaining beetling till 6:30. without food too. They found such surprizing sport in the old decayed cut-down trees which have laid there for years that they enjoyed themselves very much; even Lenny & Ruck who were only amateurs. Lenny stays till Wed. evening as it is Michaelmas. The 2 young Rucks come to spend tomorrow & we are rather puzzled what to do with them. Billy R. went this m.g. Frank & Lenny are just going a ride as we have still got the spanker here— Your letters are m. valued at Ravensb.& Alice's account of Mrs. B. is v. comf. today.

I was glad A^t C. did her duty in inviting Mrs F. & was rewarded by her not being able to accept. The two little Croftons are at Tunbridge school & they hope to settle near but cannot get a house. I have great hopes that the Hookers & Grays will not be here till after your return & then Mrs H. does not come! but I don't rejoice so much as she must be asked again. I hope Ed. is m. better. I wish Crotch w^d go today but he won't  F. handsomely offered to tell him to go at once—

Goodbye my dear. Your nose is set homewards now | I have been brisk all this company