From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [18 October 1874]

Dearest H.

The Q. is out & George's letter duly inserted w. a rejoinder from Mivart saying he did not mean any personal imputation, The whole stirring up of it again has awaked F's annoyance & he has relieved himself by a letter to Murray w. I have not yet seen, but I am rather sorry to hear of—. Mivart quotes again the rash comparison of dissolving a marriage to giving up a career. De Moore came [symbol for yesterday] & Amy was so amazed at his good appetite that she did not venture to let B. lunch there when Frank asked her. She went to church today which I am glad of, as I felt as if she was too young & ignorant to take the decided step of keeping away.

They are coming to dine this p.m. I believe the poor little man never gets a decent meal when on his own finding & I shall stuff him as m. as I can (which I c^d not manage he was so slow). It was a nice day & I made F. take the Green Hill as his walk when I was sure there w^d be no Ffends about. F. is more comf.—& I performed successfully a piece of meddling about Frank— tho' not without being found out afterwards. It was about 4 whole days work he wanted done,—& I did not the least trust F. to make known his wishes. Dr. Moore tells him that he need not get his thesis done this term.

It will be v. nice to have u on Sat. weel. You will find little Emily here (per contra) but there u will partly do her.

Carry comes from Tuesday to Sat. I am glad G. has such a nice day for Abuiger & hope he got there. F. thinks u have too low an opinion of his Pol. Econ. my chief objection is that it will make such a heavy lecture; & his health.

I am just off to New Cross & meant to take you a hamper of pears, but now I think you shall take them yourself— Perhaps the Maries will be ripe first tho'— I will see—

Most of them will be Beurre d'Aremberg & Winter Nelis.

Bring your Emily of course