From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [12 July 1878]

Dearest H—

I don't want to make too m. fuss about Bessy's stays so send you these papers on the sly, but I suspect they are too m— like coats of armour—

I don't think you need fash yourself about the Kew party as she cares v— moderately about it, & if she cared m. w^d give being at home for M^rs M'Lennan. I am so sorry for our beautiful blaze have just gone for your Sunday but I hope it may come back tomorrow— Miss J— visit was most successful & she heartily enjoys country & flowers— Her empressé manner is more tiresome than ever, & she nearly drove At E. mad while gathering a stock of flowers in At E's garden w. her scruples & apologies for every flower & begging she wd sit down & not carry the baskets &c. We have had B. just poorly enough to make one feel how uncomf it was F. being away— I think he has a double tooth just coming— He has lost his appetite a good deal & does not run about w. vigour; but he was most satisfac. cross yesterday & ate up a piece of old dry crust when we offered to give it to Flyer— He is rather excited w. these children; but they are such solemn little mice, they cannot be got to take any notice of him, all but Alice whom he finds v. good company. I have tried many times to induce them to talk but quite in vain— They chatter & play together however & are models of decorum at meals—

Louisa has expressed several times how m— disappointed she is not to have seen you— I guess something in your letter about W's death must have pleased her—partic. missing you in London—she is confiding & clinging & evidently finds it a comfort talking about W. to me & to Bessy— She is going tomorrow to Folkestone to see whether the tombstone is all right— She goes to the Nicholson & returns in the evg— She is dreadfully nervous & finds any journey or business overset her; but I think the object of her journey is rather a comfort to her— She says she often used to go & sit there by herself & & was relieved by it— One day a couple coming to visit the grave of a child came to speak to her by way of giving her comfort, which was not at all like English people, & she was pleased tho' they were v. commonplace—

I must say I shall be relieved when Uncle Harry is gone, his society is so depressing that I feel he is about the worst companion she c^d have, & I am got to think that Rowland's open chattering is a most valuable element in the family— He stays mostly w. At Eliz. but comes up her for some meals—

F. has been so poorly & uncomf & out of spirits that I have been trying to get him to go to L. H. P. at once but I think they are just expecting the Langtons— If the weather really cooled I should see if he wd not come & spend a few days with you, but if we did you shd come & have your days here this week as I can't bear you to wait any longer without seeing B. & the roses—

Pearce was at Q. A. [symbol for yesterday] & said the Dr had just been & had given a v. good acct,

My best love to Laura | yours my dear | E. D