From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [1873]

Friday | 1873

My dearest H.

It was quite a relief to hear that u had got 1 letter. I have not written to Neuchantel. Your strength is marvellous. I should think almost more of yr sometimes getting up to breakfast. I like to hear of your walks & views. It is the only style of touring I am likely to have. The accounts from Woodfield are worse–-thought I don't believe there is any danger for considerable time. They had Dr. Dyster to meet Dr. Reid & his opinion is very hopeless, tho' he think she takes nourishment enough to keep her up for a considerable time. I wish he had not given so decided an opinion & remembered Dr. Darwin's wisdom (if he ever heard it) that the keeping up some degree of hope in the near relations is the best way of keeping up their bodily strength. The shock at last is not a bit the greater. I am afraid they have sent the same opinion to Jenny. They seem to think she might have come home but for her approaching confinement; but I feel it so awful a step to ask a wife & mother to do—Uncle Harry's letters are very pathetic from their grave simplicity. He speaks of Jessie getting to a window overlooking the flowergarden & saying she had not expected ever to see it again. From the undoubting nature of her mind I hope she feels sure of a future life & that must be some comfort. I do not believe it is much to poor Harry. The not seeing Jenny again is her great pang.

The dinner at Ravens was not brilliant. Sybella was more than usually slammerkin; & was seen to do nothing but yawn with all her heart. Bessy made one observ. to her but only had hm for answer, so left her in peace— Elinor was lamenting the bigness of the wedding chiefly owing to the 10 Diceys. She can't think why people want to come–She is quite jolly; & anxious to have it all flowery and pretty. She is to have our stephanotis. Lady Lubbock called bringing a German Professor, a Herr Semper, to see F. Geo had seen him at the Lubbock's dinner at Brighton & F. w as glad to see him too. Lady L. was v. amusing to me about Brighton &c. In the afternoon I called on the Dowager, but the call was quite spoilt by having Lady L. present. She is so utterly unsympathetic w. her mother in law's rather over interest about one's affairs, especially when appealed to, her manner was as if it was quite tiresome. I always believe in the Dowager & do not think her insincere. Bessy asked Elinor Akers (who is staying at High Elms) & Amy to lunch [symbol for yesterday]. It did v. well. Amy is spirited and Elinor likes croquet; & strange to say Horace is grown fond of it too & they did not stay too late. Geo. is decidedly better too & has gained 3 lb since he came home. He dined at Holwood [symbol for yesterday] with Lord Jackville & Saunderson & it was comf. but not brilliant. By the way I was so struck w. something Snow said [symbol for yesterday]. We were talking about these 2 Drs speaking so plainly about Jessie's case, & Snow said she thought it has been a gt comfort to her mother being so hopeless about Mack for the last few months of his life.

Can you conceive a mother going abroad for 3 months when hopeless? But I am sure Snow is mistaken & that Fanny was not at all hopeless—It shews however that the unfortunate journey has left no sting in Snow's mind–-w. is hardly credible.

Lenny says.

""I have sent in my formal application to go on this exped. I went first & spoke to Col. Gallway our commandant here; he said he wd do all he cd do for me; & his doing anything a gt thing. About foreign service they all seem to say I must take my chance, & make no stipulation. The head of the survey course said that when I came back I might very likely get on the Ordnance survey, & shd be sure not to go abroad.""

Lenny & Cardew are going abroad to visit fortifications sent by the authorities. They think it will be for Antwerp.

The Hookers come on the 8th I am afraid by his note something is amiss again in Ayrton. He says he longs for the day to come here. Ernest is coming [symbol for tomorrow] & poss. Dickie.

yours my dear  E.D.

I saw a letter of Godfrey's speaking w. such vivid pleasure of Hope & Effie's visit.

Please cite as “FL-0737,” in Ɛpsilon: The Darwin Family Letters Collection accessed on 28 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/darwin-family-letters/letters/FL-0737