From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin 21 February [1870]

My dearest Body

I am in hopes we shall have a m. prosperous letter soon. It was provoking your having ugly weather for that lovely journey. You don't seem to care m. for the pictures & palaces of Genoa— I am afraid Godfrey is not really m. better. Our detestable N. E. storm (therm between 20 & 25) lasted from Friday till Tuesday & I think F. w^d have been quite ill if it had lasted longer, it made him quite miserable. I was best off in bed for 2 of the days. I was hardly at all feverish so I soon perked up again  Aunt Eliz. staid up here as she w^d have been perished & was most useful reading &c  I showed her y^r 1^st letter & she was m. pleased at G. & A's wishing to see m. of her. It is not A^t F. which cuts her visits short but only circumstances she hardly knew what.

I think if Mrs Hawk. does not ask her to Holly combe she will go to Barl. after they return. I have no doubt that it w^d be wiser & more dignified for Rose to give up balls, but I think from her letters to B. she does enjoy them very vividly in spite of every thing. I think it is a pity that Mabel does not come home now & take her place in being useful. Good old George came over on Wed. He is rather different from Ernest who Hope said she had not seen for 3 weeks. On Sat Lenny & Ruck came as well. They went to Holwood yesterday but the ice was not much. G. has had delightful skating at Hendon near Highgate for 2 or 3 days. Frank ditto near Cambridge where all the lads skate in a surprizing way & v. fast, throwing up both arms above their heads first on one side & then on the other.

Horace also at Southwold & Effie at Oxford, so England is skating mad. It is all over now I think.. Mr Dulin is copying F's Chapter & as soon as he has looked it over again I believe he means to send it to you at Cannes. I think it will be v. interesting but that I shall dislike it v. m. as again putting God further off. I have taught Mr D. to write clearer & he is quite content w. the copying now. Dulini comes tomorrow & Effie has sent her a perfect trousseau  I am not sure that I shall venture to the P Reading & she is to send her songs over in order that Mr Pearson may play the accomps—

Parliam^t is beginning so sweet & smooth there seems to be no opposition. Dizzy is ill w. may account for it & Bright I am afraid is seriously ill. They say his nerves are affected—