From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [13 or 20 November 1875]

My dearest H.

We had a nice little exped *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q; but if I had not been. v. strict with F. he wd not have come, because the day was not becoming forsooth.

We (F. G. Bessy & I) drove to the furthest top gate into the [S.] Stoneham park, where W^m met us, & James took the carriage round thro' the approach to near the house.

We walked down thro' the wild park, which is equally beaut. in the lower part when you come out of the firs into the oaks which are growing so capitally. W^m attempted to get us into the garden but found an old opening made up. The approach runs for $\frac{1}{2}$ a mile thro' tall banks of rhodos—which I am resolved to see in the spring.

I am got to feel v. well now, but the weather is quite cold which suits me—

I have no more heart to look about W^ms new house— The provisos in the agreement are so absurd & troublesome that I think he will give it up. It is doubtful whether he may build cottages for his servants. He may not cut down a forest tree without permission of the Flemings &c—

G. is going on pretty well without sickness, tho' often v. miserable–- -perhaps more so than if he had sickness. F. had a little talk w. him about forecasting evil for himself. It seemed quite a new light to him that he had the habit, so I sh^d not wonder if it was of some little use—

F. took for his text a v. flagrant instance of foreshadowing evil that did not take place—

Caroline & Jos. seem v. comf. driving out & Jos intending to go to croquet party at Wotton.

Murrays letter consists only of regrets that it shd have happened—

Saw the Ed at once who agreed to put in G's letter as it stands in big type— We are convinced the article is by Mivart. In the new Contemp. Mivart brings in the homo Sylvaticus

G. is writing an article on the language part of the subject in the Q.. taking Whitney's essay as his text.. I hope to hear that you have engaged Esther— That wretched Liddell has turned up wanting a recomm. to the Infirmary for some injury to his eyes. He has been gate keeper for some time at Ryde pier.

Will u tell At Eliz. that nothing ever did me any good for Mrs Miles' nursing trouble. I think all Bessy's clothes are in great order & v. suitable & her boots also— She has had a good many longish walks here so she is in good practise—

yours my dear. | E. D—

This is a provoking country part of it is quite extra ugly e.g. all the back of this house up to Hankinsons lane. & part so pretty.

Will you have a talk with Parslow about sending John to hire a horse (at Widmore I believe). We had better have it a few days before we get home, which will be on Monday 24^th