From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [25 May 1877]

Dearest Body

It was v. nice to have your letter this mg pretty prosperous— The weather today is enchanting & Ida has been sitting out without her hat–- - I have had rather an uncomf. acct of At F. from Ellen ""I am sorry to say I have just been seeing both Fanny & Snow in bed. F was taken ill last night at the Hawkshaws. She looks v. m heated & is v drowsy— & D^r. A. C. [is] it is a sort of fever she has but is not sure.

(Snow has neuralgia)

F's breathing is less bad than I have generally heard it when she is ill— So I suppose it is not bronchitis this time!—

Fanny has wonderful power of recovery, but I am afraid this is pretty sure to stop her going abroad—

Well I had my little talk to H—w. was satisfactory as shewing his withers quite unwrung. He was quite incredulous on the score of the short acquaintance which fact goes for 0 in my mind. L. had never seen her before— H. went off in the mg. yesterday & the roads were so good he bowled back to dinner at night & is gone again today— F. made a grand clearance of the hothouse for his experiments sending Orchids & c to Mr Nash & at 9^.^30 Mr N. came in partly to thank him (saying how m. delighted his gardener was as he had been always longing for Orchids) & partly to try if Fr. w^d not change his mind about going to America, as the friend who had promised had given it up— He was not at all shaken, v. wisely I think, as they w^d have 6 weeks travelling & voyage for one month in Oregon, prospecting a district to see whether it is worth purchasing. F^r goes to Oxford tomorrow & will ask Mosely if he likes to go (free of expense) Now I must go & write a Congrat to whom.— H^r Hooker & Mr Dyer. The most suitable & happy thing possible. He writes to put off Fr for a time as they are to be married directly almost—before D^r H goes to America— Another wedding present!

Cambridge wants to make F. a D.C.L—but he gratefully declines as he c^d not stand the bother— They may choose to give up his attendance on the occasion & then of course he will like it. B. & Ida managed their little drive & walk *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q as it was pretty decent & Baby went as far as the village to get used to things & bore it q. well— We had a sober evening.

Goodbye my dear | yours E . D—

B. is gone to Miss Shaw & comes straight back— G. comes at 4^.^50–- -

may it be as fine as this *P [symbol for tomorrow] *Q

Mary says she put 2 silk handsk into the parcel

Here is yr letter all right in yr black bag I am sorry you had the agitation yr p. manteau is not gone yet if you sh^d want any thing.