From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [13 April 1873]

My dearest Body

It is pleasant to think that it is hardly worth while writing but I will put a scrap into El. We have had blazing summer weather for 4 or 5 days but I dare say it will be cold eno' in May. I had such a bad headache yesterday that I am happy to think good M^rs H. Norman will chaperone the girls. Lenny has had a desperate boil which however has made him less uncomf. than it w^d any one else in the world. It has broken in a slow sort of way & has done him the good turn of keeping him 2 or 3 days longer from Woolwich by M^r Edwards certificate. Bessy & Horace had a dullish dinner at Ravens & tho' Bessy escaped sitting by Miss Clough who always does her so hard— Young Bridgman is dead after lingering 6 weeks after his return—

The poor Woodfields seem as sad as ever & find the fine weather even more depressing. They have had to put an end to poor Whisky & U. Harry w^d trust nobody to do it but himself which he suffered at v. m. Jenny is at Lidwells & had so m. to do she finds it cheering. Carry is just going w. Helen to Llan. She has felt Whisky's death as much as one was sure she w^d—The parents go to Dumbleton & Lidwells soon.

Lawrence is coming & it is a good thing as Frank goes off tomorrow to Crawley's in Monmouthshire— I dare say L's earnest ado ration to Amy will make up for his being rather dull—& we shall have Horace—& we shall hear about Hope by Ernest today, but she seems to have been v. uncomf–-I have had such a cordial invite from Millicent. She is a friendly soul. The Lennards (be hanged to them) are bringing the Galtons to lunch on Sat. I wish they w^d send them by themselves—

1stly Eras. forked out £10 ""extravagant money"" for you. He said I think Hen makes the money go pretty well (a gen. observation for I had not gone into the subject). I said ""Yes she can manage that—now as for the Jossi I don't think they have that talent"— ""No not the least. said he I sh^d think it useless extravagence to give them anything."" To which Eliz & I demurred, but whether it will fructify I doubt F. is certainly best pleased that you sh^d not go to Florence & not only on the question of money. I am afraid it gives you g^t pangs. I fancied in my ignorance there was a railroad to Genoa & also to Florence; as there is not it w^d be g^t expense & I s^d not at all like the steamboat voyage—I am glad to think you are not going further off too. As you are not going I sh^d not be too anxious about small expenses & drives—What a vulgar minded brute Col. Boring must be— How odd the food sh^d be so bad. I am sitting on the watch for F. F. to way lay her in the dining room. The Galtons are coming for luncheon & I asked F. F. to tea (she is at the Langham Hotel awfully near) by way of making sure she does not drop in at luncheon time. Clem took her to the play last night— very nice of him. It is an old story about G. & his father & poss. you may have put it a little stronger; but I sh^d not like my children to describe w. their cousins any mistakes I had made in their education w. they had felt ""bitterly."" Any thing they had not minded very much I sh^d not mind their talking about.

Since this note of Ef. I have a better still acct. They were sending for turtle soup for H. & scheming about her going to Bournemouth. D^r de Nussy was quite puzzled by the pain but as he was not uneasy I guess she had no fever, but the pain seemes to have be violent & to have lasted a long time.

The kitten is v. sweet we have taken Tip & not baby bunting. He is outdacious & has not Whiskers angelic temper but v. handsome. B. finds it v. comf. casting him off her mind when she does not want him. She is just come down & says the ball was v. nice all but Amy having a bad headache some part of the time & going away to rest but she got better & enjoyed it. The gents got plenty of Norman partners. F. asked Hugh Carter if he w^d be introduced to Amy & was so affronted at his nonchalant manner that he bounced & w^d not introduce him afterwards when he wished it. Erny danced forever with Mary Norman & ""enjoyed it immensely"" & Lawrence did v. well. The weather is !!! & G. is going off a day sooner as it is so fine for crossing.His love & thanks for y^r letter.

About speaking and writing I believe you are right but I have a feeling there is more malice prepense in it is more permament writing, but I did not blame you but G—

My mind has been so full of poor Harry that I have not felt inclined for much. I will write soon again—write to Uncle Ras. It will please him to acknowledge y^r tip. He is quite annoyed at Snow's going to Edin. Mr. Erskine sent word he did not wish to see her, Claude Erskine particularly disliked her going w. with him. He wanted to go 3^rd Class & also disliked Snow going to a Hotel while he went to M^r Erskines. When she got there M^r E. c^d only bear to see her for a v. few minutes at a time, however she says she is glad she went.

I suppose they all tried to stop her. Ef. & Hope have been v. nice to Bessy having her up. They dined w. us one day–- yours my dear| E.D.