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

My dearest Body,

I am rather disappointed at not having a letter today as I am afraid you are not returned to Cannes, where I shall be glad to know you are safe at home again—I wish the journey back may have been pleasanter that the one Southwards, We have had pleasant bright days since the frost broke up. Therm about 42—

At Eliz and Bessy went up yesterday to see the last of the exhib. of pictures & had a lovely bright day. They lunched at Camb. T. Snow had gone to Edin. w. Claude Erskine. I suppose only for a short time. We have all been full of the ""Warwickshire scandal"" which is almost too indecent to mention. It is satisfactory that the P. of W. & letters to Lady M are so extremely dull & commonplace that I think he must be innocent. I quite believe her to be insane now whatever she has been, & also that she is guilty. What women there are in the world, many of them forced their way in to hear this horrible trial. I suppose from the decision of the jury that she is insane that Sir. C. M. will not be able to go on w. the divorce.

I am sorry to hear that Godfrey is expected home so soon. I am afraid he will not have had time to confirm any good he may have got. He says in today's letter that he has made no step forward since the 1st 6 weeks. We are going to have Ledger over & begin the g^t job of altering & enlarging the little room, not according to W^m's plan, but the smaller job. I was talking to F. today about foreign plans & it was a new light to him that you were going the Swiss tour as well as these others, however he quite agreed w. me that the babes c^d not go QQQQ. without you— We came to the conclusion that if your joining the boys at Florence kept you much longer abroad it w^d be too extravagant & also keep you so v. long from home. What time w^d you naturally come home—the middle or the end of April?

The P reading was v. successful tho' we had that nasty scene of M^r Bumble & M^rs Corney out of Oliver Twist w. we had before once—Old Abraham was so charmed w. Dulini he asked to send her a small present viz $\frac{2}{6}$ w. I am to add to what I pay for copying. I was dazzled by a very handsome brooch & earrings she was wearing & it came out that she has a lover, well to do in the world but old—a pastry cook. I expect it to fall thro' as one c^d not fancy any man w^d be so idiotic as to marry her family if he can make up his mind marry herself. There are grown up daughters too so it is not v. prosperous—but he seems v. kind & the daughters civil. I sent her off w. a rich box of frippery from Hope and Effie. A perfectly new opera cloak of Hope's I have kept back as it is nonesense to give it to her & so I shall tell Hope— Bessy & Anne & I have made the flower case quite lovely w. hyacinths. I never saw it prettier & so sweet. Yesterday we had a telegram sent to Henry Lubbock & forwarded to us to say that Sir John was safe in for Maidstone, & today all the serv^ts went to see him come home & be drawn from Farmborough home. He came out on the hall steps & made a speech & then there was beer ad. lib. the maids & Parslow going in & having an elegant tea. I was glad to hear that M^rs Henry was in the carriage w. Sir John & My lady.

I have sent you his speech at Maidstone w. we thought excellent. Sunday. I was m. pleased to get your scrap from Alafico as I think it is more than a week since your last. It was a pleasure to read a beautiful exped. after all y^r misfortunes. It is a g^t mistake of Amy trying to manage G. Aunt Eliz. is going to propose a visit to Barlaston as soon as they are at home.

I hear of deaths & fevers at Rome & I am going to tell William, not that I believe it will deter him, but I shall feel uneasy while he is there. A cousin of the Hollands has died & his 3 daughters have had the fever & recovered. The poor John's have lost their only baby for the second time. From convulsions this time as the baby was quite healthy. A lover has been reported for Jenny an agreeable & gentlemanlike officer but supposed to be poor. Nothing has happened however, only talk. We go to L. Anne on Sat. & I mean to get the Union done. before I go. We have not got Geo. this time he is at Cam. Lenny and Bessy had a nice walk this mg while I went to church & now they are to ch. Polly's spirits are low, but she was m. pleased at Lenny's arrival & had a few towsles w. his fingers. She takes all her walks and rides but is solemn & grave. Parliment is so smooth there has been nothing like an opposition speech yet. I will send you a Daily. I am curious to hear what you say about San Remo, opinions differ so m. about it. If you make any observations on the Warwick scandal put it on a separate bit of paper. The QQQQ have had a v. proposperous visit at J. A. of 3 days only. I think they did all in w. yr letter. Well Goodbye my dear. I will jot down in my pocket book what day I write as I am always telling you Hale news to the best of my belief.

yours E. D.