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

My dearest Body

I wonder what you are doing this lovely Sunday. Frank is here & they have been most of the mg trying the Phantom which seems v. superior to the old one & does not make the least noise. This I think quite a disadvantage in the road. Frank frightened some girls dreadfully in the road. Before lunch we went to the green hill & sat out & the boys & Bessy talked over Switzerland—

I wonder when you heard yesterday's wonderful news of the Emperor giving himself up; & when Aunt Eliz was coming back from New Cross she heard that he was dead which w^d be better still poor wretch. I think M^r Mahon had better die of his wound too. Do read the French telegrams in the Evening Standard of the same time as the German accounts of the capitulation of McMahon. I wonder how they will treat Palekas when they hear the truth. Major Kempson has been w. him in China & says he was reckoned a poor creature in every way. [symbol for tomorrow] Snow & Miss Gourlay go to Ightham. She (Snow) came up here with a v. bad headache [symbol for yesterday] as she c^d not get complete darkness at At. Eliz. She got better & came to dinner, & got some military information from Lenny which came so [illeg] Frank was convinced that he was inventing it on the spur of the moment.

A letter came from Uncle H. yesterday to Eliz. telling her that Major C. was to sail on the 14th & so the wedding is to be on Wed. They have curtailed the guests as m. as poss. It is no g^t evil the marriage being hastened, but a g^t disappointment losing Jenny's visit afterwards. We are actually going to have the old cherry tree cut down & At. Eliz. found Miss W. comf. at M^rs Dublin, but wonderfully troublesome, she pursues M^rs D. when she gets away from her & the only way she gets a little peace is insisting on her lying in bed rather late in the mg. Eliz told her she must use a little more authority & insist upon her doing with M^r D. & Katie sometimes. Still it is v. prosperous but as the old soul insists upon 6 meals a day M^rs D does not think she shall make a g^t deal of the 25) a week—She is 79 I am happy to hear, but perfectly well.

Tomorrow Frank will go to call w. us on the Whitmores. B & I called on the Frys & found they were at Folkstone. Then we went on & found M^rs Darrell Reed very pretty & prosperous but with 2 children. Miss Fry & death was v. unaccountable & so sudden that M^rs F. only got to her a few hours before her death when she was insensible.

I think of inviting Alfred for part of the Huxley's. He will be a real help.

It seems Miss Kate had misgivings & found she did not care for him & her mother advised her to break it off—They don't think Alfred minded /v./ m.