From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [9 May 1876]

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.

Tuesday—

Dearest H—

Leo. arrived about 6. yesterday evg. to our great surprise.

He left Malta only 4 days before viz Friday—got to Marseilles at 6 a. m. on Sunday started again at 11. & came straight on here very dirty but not tired. He never lost an hour on the way—

It certainly was a contretems having the Lyells, but Leo. did not mind & we went on as if they were not there. We have had a gt deal of talk out of him—

He is a little thinner!! & all these 8 months in constant society has made his manners very well bred & easy— He says he shall soon be up to see you— I wish you cd have been here my dearest, but I think you were wise to go when you could. I think Andrew's visit was decidedly cheering as not minding your pain & urging exertion.

Yesterday Leo. went to bed v. early, but not before we had some music & Rosamond plays very tastefully & well. She decidedly hits my fancy so full of repose & unconsciousness & so resting in comparison of her mother who however I decidedly like—

I gave yr message

They have found a change in the Huxley girls too like us, & were much puzzled till Rosamond met the Miss Tennants; & being friends with them she thought quite accounted for deterioration.

I am quite sorry for a disappt for Bessy which she takes as fate & bears v. well— Mrs Lyell asked her to go with them to Cam. for a week during M. Hancock's visit & we cd not poss. alter it.

Please cite as “FL-0772,” in Ɛpsilon: The Darwin Family Letters Collection accessed on 28 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/darwin-family-letters/letters/FL-0772