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

My dearest Body

We were expecting Lizzy to bring a newspaper from London where she had been to have her gown tried to tell us the result of G's exam. When in came a Telegram from his bedmaker with the announcment of his election as Fellow, the only one of his year so it is an honour. Clifford is another & the rest of the names I dont know. He stopped the Tel. fly & went straight off to Cambridge & I hope comes back tomorrow. He was really much surprized at his good fortune or did not the least expect it. He has won a bet of £25 on the occasion [Cartemall] having betted 500^s/. to 1 against his ever getting a fellowship, it happened when they first came to Cam. & G. does not think he will get the money, but I hope he will not take it if he does get the offer. In the afternoon while we were having a call from Mr & Mrs Norman came another Tel. from Pelham to offer his congrats, the same poor house starting off again for the 2^nd time, however he wd not know how useless a journey he was making & he had a bait here when he brought the first Papa was m. delighted be v. in somehow QQQQ. I cd not QQQQ Uncle Hensleigh came down to At Eliz on Thursday bringing word that Uncle Harry was having a feverish cold & D^r Gill at the Gt W. Hotel, so At Eliz very wisely [illeg] up after him along with Lizzy & brought him home then & there, rather against D^r Gill's opinion, at least it wd have been against his will if had not had the forethought to pack up his things before D^r G. came. It has done him no harm & they are all coming to luncheon, & the day is quite enchanting, & perhaps we shall do that dismallest of all expeds calling at the Hoare's. On Wed. I had disordered any callers but Mrs B. C. & so she came & I shd have had a nice sit only the Nortons came at the same time & James very wisely admitted them as he could not deny me civilly, so it was only a clack. They had a M^r Harcourt from Oxford. M^rs Beatrice came too & M^r Sam. Smith in the carriage but he is but poorly. I set Mrs Vernon striaght in y^r opinion.

Frank is gone this lovely day to Aldershot to see Ruck. It is the sort of exped.to depend entirely on the weather. I read Snow's interesting letter to you (sent off Wed. as she gave me leave along with a scarf from me). How m. better her friends suit her than her family. I have no doubt these people want to have her as long as ever they can – By the way Uncle Hen. says do go to Troyes it is m. m. worth seeing than Rheims full of old churches & picturesque refs. [illeg] visit at Walcot very succesful. Lucy wrote quite a pleasant letter to Liz describing the charm of the parrot. Some Miss Mundys were there & Miss Hall again. Kempions come Tuesday & I have asked Henry Lubb for Wed. Langtons come Monday to Eliz. but not Uncle Ch. I am glad to say, she will enjoy them so m. m. to themselves.

Papa stood his 2 visits v. well yesterday & is getting on. He has had such a nice note from Tyndall I propose inviting him here while the philos are here. Lizzy & I had a pleasant call on Lady L. expecting her confinement every day & not allowed to ??? but very pleasant & merry talking about John's speeches at the election meetings & little Conny's observations on the O.J. how–she did not approve of David as ""mean and murdering"" & ""by what she c^d learn from what the clergy mean said"" Joshua must have been the wickest man that ever lived.""&c. Mrs Norman thinks Lizzy so likes M^r Lubbock as well as Lady L. I can't conceive where the likeness is. Well goodbye my dear my best love to Ed. It is very unlucky her cold. I hope you are winding up brilliantly with this weather. I hope we shall have a few days of you before the hooroosh begins.

Woodhouse will see you 27th. yours my dear E.D