From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [5 September 1874]

Dearest H.

I was so glad to get your letters w. Bessy capital account of the g^t expedition; which I like reading about, tho' that is not the sort of thing I partic. envy you travellers. but the Lake of Lugano—the Cannes mountains &c. It was most fortunate their meeting with the shepherd & his nice little goat. It is almost always the case that the guides w^d get unconsciously to be good courtiers. We have had such constant rain that G. has been wet thro' twice most days & once every day, & I have frequently blessed Bessy for making me buy a Mackintosh. Eras. has been comf. & very nice over the fire. Eliz came to dinner both days till she went to Hope dine [symbol for yesterday]. She enjoys his company, & he is always partic. kind to her. Today we expect M^r Wilson to lunch & having sent some peaches to M^rs Smith they have produced very large interest in the shape of 3 partridges, so we shall do very well. We half expect the F. D.'s at any time & it is being a fine day I hope they will come. People always come from abroad in such horrid weather. The proof sheets are nearly done; & I must say in exculpation of G. that I percieve that F. dislikes, & is fidgetted nearly as much by an alteration that is a manifest improvement as by a useless ones. When he dictates he dislikes so m. any sort of suggestion of improvement that I have left off ever giving one—It seems to give him a jolt, & stops his thoughts. We have just got another hired horse & the poor broken knee is sent home. We have also taken up Flyer. We are again immersed in Quits, w. F. has nearly forgotten. I am determined not to read so much trash. A letter from Harry from Thun to Eliz. so I have sent it on unopened.

Hensleigh has sent G. a small essay he has been writing on the metaphysics of number (whatever that may mean) & as G. did not agree or think m. of it he has been rather put so in his answer, however he has got out of it sincerely & respectfully. You will meet Ernest I guess as he is gone to the Italian lakes—

I send today Nature & the Spec. Yours my dear. I guess the girls & R will have had one more exped. before leaving Rieder Alp. I suppose it is too naked so be nice near the Hotel. How odd your meeting 2 acquaintances Kearys & Bishops. W. is obliged to give up his Cornwall tour w. will be a disappt. to Skimp—I am in hopes G. will be well eno' to go to the Lakes on Monday. he will be sadly disappted to give it up. I met M^rs Ff. in the road [symbol for yesterday] w. I was glad of as I had not returned her call. We were quite cordial. I don't the least grudge the extra 2^d if u get the letters sooner —