From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [10 October 1878]

Dearest H—

What a dismal day for your move to L. H. P.

B. went off this mg. to Bromley in the carriage at 6.15 w. Pearce to start her—

Yesterday Uncle H. Ida & Horace went, H. to fetch the new bicycle. I believe I never told you of F. scraping his leg, & as it did not heal quite rightly we had D^r Willey, who said to our astonishment that he must keep it up & it mt be a fortnight; however it is now healing so fast that I am sure it will be well in a few days— I believe the shin ought always to be treated w. gt ceremony—

Frank Balfour & George went together this mg. He is m. tamer & more of a human creature, tho' of course the talk was chiefly of axles— He gave us a few gleanings of political gossip from his brother, who thought Bismarck a coarse looking brute— He seems to dislike Dizzy v. wholesomely. Frank B. is very staunch.

Aunt F. has been v. comf. these few days & sitting in the veranda. I think she is sorry to go home— She will have Ellen—(if you read Ellen aloud soften the acct of Eras a little). I feel very fond of her & shall miss my little sights of her & she will be a gt loss to At Eliz. Here is Rose's exposé to the Board of Guardians which F thinks very sensible—

Effie's enormous long letters, (which I must own cd not be half as long except for the short hand) are a gt pleasure to her to pore over & consider, & she knows all about the places even if she has not been there w. she generally has.

(Turganef's Fathers & sons is too tiresome & we have given it up) Horace is going to write to Uncle Jos— He is a regular water-pipe D^r & is employed professionally by Alice also—

Leo went yesterday after horse's to Canterbury—I suppose At Caroline does not want Galumpies any more now than she did before

Bernard accomplished ""Idy"" only the last day, & now he calls the ""Lady loved a swine Idy""—He learns to talk dreadfully fast—

A letter from Theo. to Bessy w. I must forward to her—Sara looking so well she says & W^m sends word that he is v. flourishing to w— Arthur added that he w^d be in a day or 2—

In a few days time W^m was to join Arthur at New York & go to Niagara & Trenton w. him—

Goodbye my dear— | w. love to R. E.D

Burn the next page—

We have used him 2 or 3 times to Orpington.