From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [25 April 1874]

Dearest Body

It is disappointing not to see u today; & B. is rather afraid u w^d have come but for the Jossie & her on Monday—as u w^d have stayed over Monday—but she never thot of it 

I suppose however that you like to do something to the girls. B. w^d like m. to stay over Tuesday, but will leave it uncertain because of her questions—

Such a very nice letter from Rose yesterday, full of compassion for her mother & without the least striving for more feeling than she can have. I was in hopes we should have heard today that her sufferings were over. About the Women's College F. thinks & so do I that if u were a strong woman it w^d be a real good thing to do; but if it ended in your being the real manager in the same way that R is for his college, it w^d be too gt a weight for your little back, & undertaking a thing & giving it up, I suppose, w^d really do more harm than good. I heard from Mrs Huxley the other day rather uneasy about Marian, & I am afraid she is just the sort of constitution to turn to consumption. Jessie is going to a wedding at Easter & Mrs H. is going w. Marian to the sea, so that stops our having them; w. I am not sorry for now we are sure to have u & R—

I have Old Brooks & Mrs B. on my mind— He is almost broken down & I must arrange for him to sleep part of his time up here in his old cottage, but as he says it is impossible & it is thought she will vehemently object to a nurse, it is not easy to manage  Sometimes she takes a knife & entreats him to stab her & kill her & he is utterly shaken—

Mr Edwards does not think her insane, so he must bear her a little longer. G is m. the same— Parslow took some goods of H to Erith *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q & found him at work, & was shewn by him all over the works to his gt admiration—

He comes today & I hope will have stood in pretty well— Ellen comes on Tuesday till Sat. I guess— Sophy & L. on Friday—

yours my dear | E.D.

What an obstinate neck yours is—

F. will send u a message about corrections—

He says, for R's comfort that he once had a most dreadful boil on the knee, which had to be attended by surgeon, & never had another in that place tho' he has had 100s every where else—

Return me this v. nice letter of Rose's when u have shewn to any one you like— I am in no hurry—

I am so glad Amy had the presence of mind about Mr Banks, & I am also glad, as he has been so constantly kind to her that he sh^d know her family were aware how much she cared for him—