From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [8 September 1877]

Dearest Hen—

Engelberg sounds so charming by B's letters that I am almost sorry they are leaving it— You will learn from W^m that SS comes on Friday the 14^th till Tuesday & I am glad it is not later— W^m speaks warmly of the enjoyment & good travelling qualities of his companions. I am glad the meeting is not put off till the end of the month, & I dare say W^m. will squeeze another day— Today is exquisite w. the true autumn brilliancy. The 2 brother Teesdales (the Canon is quite nice) came to play lawn tennis w. Fr yesterday & also a pretty boy who is lodging at the Sawyers at Farthing Street & a v. ugly boy Forrest. Babsy has been disordered in his inside for some days, but it does not make him unwell— He luckily adores treacle & so takes his rhubarb w. no difficulty.

The other day Fr. met Sir John in the train, who said to him—""I find Mr Ffinden has been taking some of my property out of the school"" & sure enough Mr Town came in the P.M. & told Fr that Mr Ff. had told him to take a book case out of the school & put it up in the Vicarage, & that he meant to buy it. Mr T. said he knew it was Sir John's but it was not his business to interfere, & Fr likes no better to interfere than he does; & so means to let Sir John fight his own battle. But did you ever know so strange a liberty to take? Lily's visit home has answered v. well— At Eliz. & I have learnt what we can of the family ways & there seems not to be any extravagance but no rigid economy—e.g. they have some meat once every day. At Eliz. goes to Dilhorne on Monday week. I forward all the letters, except a note from Mr Jennings acknowledging my cheques w. he was glad to have & I keep the blank ones also acknowledgment from Commons. Soc. & one from Annie to you Ditto. Tony does not m. care for being let out—w. makes me pity shut up dogs m. less. He tried to get into his cage again & is to sleep there till the cold weather comes. He is q. distended w. fat & it is a pity it did not kill him.

Mrs Whitmore called *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q & told me such a story of the Fred—Norman's callousness about a dog of theirs w. had been bitten by a mad dog & which they did not fasten up for a week afterwards & then only in a yard where any body c^d get at it— In another week he became ill & Fred N. c^d hardly be persuaded to have him shot. They have 2 little children running about too. G. is pretty comf. at Strathconan where the weather has been fine. It is bitterly cold every mg. but a good fire in evg. The B. Hopes seem fatiguingly noisy & chaffy— They are all (but himself & F.B) out deer stalking till 9 ^.^ or 10 at night. one day they shot 280 hares—a blessing for the farmers.

The house is really being finished now & I shall begin furnishing the bedrooms the tiles are put in the grates & the graining done—

Horace was so knocked up by a day's packing at Erith & bicycling home in the teeth of a high wind that he looked perfectly ill & gave up dining w. Elinor. He went to London *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q & must have been a blessing to Eras—whose life is utterly solitary just now—

No news from Abinger for a week w. makes me v. cross.

yours my dear | E. D—