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

Yesterday I went in the carriage to M^rs Dayman & found her as big as Polly & v. cheerful under the expectation of 48 or a week's labour w. has been her usual style. She looks m. better able to bear it however— W^m Brooks is dead & I think poor M^rs Cowlard will not last long. She can only get up for a short time now. Elin says that poor little Lucy (the dog) seeing Jenny in a sudden fit of grief put her paws on her lap & kissed her hands and face.— That was m. remarkable that Polly w. you, as P w^d understand a slap v. well, but one does not see why a dog sh^d understand crying.

All the towns (from the rail)looking brown & dismal. 10 hours sleep at Bologna. He has a horrid passage & the ice bag quite failed, perhaps he tho^t, from not putting it on soon enough.Friday mg. Polly went her walk w. F., is now in her basket rather restless & pathetic & her teats v. m. swelled & red. I think she hardly knows what happened tho' they said she hunted about at first a good deal. I am quite glad the weather is rather milder for Ellen & I sh^d be quite afraid of her soming if it had continued as cold as it was— M^r Short has sent a cob & at present he seems quite perfect & with beautiful paces. We will have Tommy turned out if we buy him £25 a good price—