From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [1875]

I am just returned from a call (per M^rs Baker which is perfectly comf. & a good horse) at L.H.P. I went after luncheon & the drive was lovely—I sat out w. them most of the time & Margaret soon joined us. She looks very thin & speaks in a low voice as if she was weak, but was quite calm & joined in every thing.

She looks v. pretty in her widow's cap. Hervy was playing about all the time & the other 2 came after. Little Ralph has regular features & might be like Lucy or Susan. After coffee Caroline was taken in the chair to the wood & I walked up to see the remains of the Rhodos—w. are still beaut. Poor At. C. looks dejected still. Uncle Jos. quite well & brisk. Lucy turned up suddenly from Ireland, walking up from Ockley, having had no food since the day before, & she w^d not have any thing till luncheon. She is coming with Sophy on Friday. I had asked Sophy to see Amy & they sleep that night. Now the weather has taken this turn I expect it to last. Come as soon as you can on Friday. They don't come till P. M.

The virtuous Franks stay over tomorrow to start a Temperance meeting on Wed. I am sorry they lose 2 days. yours my dear| E.D—

We shall have Wm again & Horace—I missed a sight of Hope today, which I was sorry for.