From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [6 October 1877]

Dearest H—

I can only prose about this happy subject—(see enclosed) I don't believe W^m will ever manage to be as open again as he is by letter— You may save the enclosed— They have a lovely day to be mooning together at Tilgate; but I am afraid there are a gt many curious pair of young eyes to be watching & prying—

I am dreadfully impatient for next Sat— Sara says ""I will come on the 13thQQQQ & stay till you send me away— —I have not thought of any thing so material as clothes nor did I know that there was any talk of a wedding, I thought that was a long way off— But I shall remember your counsel (not to buy a stock of clothes) which suits my own inclination so well""—

""I have had a letter from Hen. so full of love & tender feeling that I am pained to think how little I deserve it."" Now all my aim will be to get the marriage on as quickly as may be— Alice Hutchinson came *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q & Emily T comes *P ⁠⟨⁠symbol for today⁠⟩⁠ *Q. Two such quiet mice are enough to swamp a party; but Alice can talk of books w. Emily cannot— Bennet is coming w. Emily & I have no doubt Leo. will receive his friend a good deal in his own room. The weather is quite perfect & Mrs Nash goes her kind exped—to the Z. gardens w. the Band of Hope & has the school master I am glad to find— This happy settlement is not only a vivid happiness but the relief from a weight off my mind—

We do not shew all these effusions to Fr— It must be too sad; but he never shews any sign. Geo. was engaged to Terling *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q—but so unwell he gave it up; so I was v. glad he c^d go today—yours my dear. I suppose you will just mention how R. is in yr next—

At Eliz. is v. happy at Barlaston & can't help constantly thinking of the the difference of Poor F's absence

She says Uncle Fr is so constantly amused & laughing w. is utterly different from his old home state of mind