From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [22 October 1877]

Dearest Hen—

I have been living on your Sat. tel. ""All symptoms favorable—don't send Elinor""—till this morning when it came all upon me as if I had forgotten it all yesterday— I wonder how you got thro' that Thursday night before the nurse came—

This mg. Frank is going up to see D^r Moore & talk about your having an assistant.

Now I will go on journalizing & it is pleasant to think that dear R. likes it.

Sat. evg was q. cheerful Mary D—making frogs w. she was wonderfully clever about & Arthur shewing a puzzle & W^m that one of the twisted paper—

On Sunday mg—Arthur & Elly went off v. early to see that enormous family of Lucks which I don't believe Arthur cares 1^d about & I can't think why Mary did not go w. them— We luckily discovered that she was going w. them as far as Mary Cray to be out of our way & get up to London eventually, so we forced her to stay here till a later train, w. Arthur said she w^d like & that it w^d be a good rest for her as she had been working incessantly— She was v. open w. me & liked talking over her plans, w. are hopeless viz. taking a room (on £60 a year) & working at painting (for which I doubt if she has any talent judging by that Palm tree in Fs room) She says her uncle is most kind & wd like to have her permanently; but she cannot bear the inane idle life & Mrs D' tho' kind is disagreeable— She said Elly's marriage is a complete happiness to her feeling her so safe— W^m sat all mg talking chiefly to Sara. v comf—but never an instant alone w. Mab. &c— Today will be better as she goes early w. Frank (who will also see poor old Leo)—

The ladies went to p.m. church & after that being a lovely autumn calm day walked to Cudham church & had the clerk to shew the church as if they had been in foreign parts—

Just got yr blessed letter saying that Dr Moore is still with you; that takes away $\frac{1}{2}$ my fears— Alice & A—Shore just come in to lunch—

yours my dear | E.D