From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [January 1870]

My dear Body,

I am rejoiced to think you are safe at the end & you have been most good in writing (I wrote to you 2 days after you left, but as I addressed it Hotel Victoria & did not put the name of Langton it may be wandering there several days.) I am sorry you did not find it to receive [part of page cut out] You will have had Bessy's however so without yesterday—no more time today. How is Gofrey give him my love & Amy

Lenny was set by F. today to cash up his receipts as a forlorn hope, to find out the mistake & so of course the dark horse soon found a mistake of £200 so. Lets it £30 the other way, so is not difficult to account for (at least not so difficult.) He and Polly are just in from their ride. We have nice calm weather & B & I are going to [reverse of cut page] was m. amused to find Amy had twigged all about G. Wicksted & she believes her grandmother to this day believes that G. W. was much in love w. her & that she threw away her chances. Amy took a spiteful pleasure in quizzing him afterwards & really did think him v. dull—

(The measuring glass has turned up). I am sorry the filthy old woman turned out to be English after all. Frank has been invited to Barton this same Sat & declined w. a masterpiece of style. He writes quite cheerful but he thinks he shall not do m. in exam. I will give your message to Anne. You don't condescend to say now. Ed looks w. is a good sign—

The boys had their hunt & I am happy to think they enjoy it so moderately that they will not be at Nemrodes. Alf. Lubbock has been taken to London by Lady L. to undergo some operation, owing to an injury in hunting. Bessy called on Mrs Henry yesterday & heard not a v. good acct of him. He is to remain perfectly quiet for a fortnight in London & Lady L. nurses him. She is a good sister in law we don't know what the op is. Gunther comes—He got his baby safe I am glad to say. The Scotch lawyer w^d not undertake the brother in law's case and so G. got the costs as well the baby. Hooker does not come alas—I will number my letters. Jerry is quite recovered— Yours is just come in w. the corrections. but I have not time today. I have no doubt it will read clear & when we don't feel quite sure we must put in the the Italian words F. wd have been quite sorry to give up publishing. I think you w^d have made a mistake in giving up Mentone to save your room, as you will see it in a leisurely way & be sure to enjoy it, & the Laughtons wd never have gone there. With respect to Genoa it is such a bad time of the year, on the other hand the leaves will not be out when G. goes. I really can't tell. I went from Genoa to Speria in Feb. & thought it lovely & you wd see the Riviera twice over. I can't really tell. I c^d not have courage to let you go to Naples. (Poor Polly is in durance vile & seems to bear it patiently F. is quite miserable about her & bears it m. the worst of the. 2.) M^r. Reed & M^r & M^r Darrell come tomorrow. Powell can't come w. is a waste. The boys had a v. cold hunt yesterday but a good run & Frank went out w. the beagles today, & George is gone since to shoot.

Put any remarks about joining G. on a separate bit of paper.

Yours my dear. I hope you got over your bothers. Did you pay Ollivier for the morning Opera I fancied you did. the bill is come in.