From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [19 October 1873]

My dearest Body

It is a pleasure to receive such a delightfully affectionate invitation & to think that R. joins in it as heartily as you do; & we will come with all our hearts. F. never could bear the thoughts of putting u to so much inconvenience, & so had given up thoughts of Bry: but I tell him I don't mind it in the least, & I am sure u & R. don't. Of course I like it m better than Q. Anne, as though we shd see a good deal of u there, there are nooks & corners of time that one catches only by being in the house w. u.

I think we will fix on the 8 or 10^th Nov. if that suits you, but we shall not agree to your tabooing all your friends—as they do not tire F. like seeing his own. I aim at his seeing nobody but the Huxleys & not giving luncheons at all— We will stay a week—I should like to say 10 days—but I don't think I shall compass that.

F. is much absorbed w Desmodium gyrans & went to see it asleep last night. It was dead asleep all but its little ears which were having most lively games, such as he never saw in the day time.

I expect that Horace has settled his affairs at Erith I wish they w^d give him 2 months trial instead of one–-£500 is a good sum to risk— The cautious Hacon only advices having a builder to look over the house as there is nothing to object to in the lease—

Bessy will not take advantage of the silver bracelet. For myself I can't think but what an Egyptian silver bracelet must be corse. I believe F will be quite as happy as he was at Abinger. I have not persuaded or bothered him at all—

yours E D.