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

Dearest H—

It will be v. nice to have you on Sat. 23 (—?) to stay over Xmas—

Bernard is v. croaky still but perfectly well this mg— He was a little languid yesterday & Fr came home from the lecture (no he dined first w. D^r Moore & was m. cockered up by his approval of the lecture, w. was very hearty.) Fr had thot it not nearly so good as his last.

B. is to have his water boiled but the well water is tho^t safer than tank to my surprize— Both are perfectly safe until some one falls ill of typhoid &c in the house. But Ansted is v. m. astonished at the nitrates in the 3 wells here. At Eliz. has more than ours & the Petley is twice as bad as hers. Horace is to undertake the job professionally & take D^r Ogle's advice— F. had a long talk w. Leo—& advised him to write to the Commandment.

I think he as good as gave his consent as after persuading Leo. against it he ended by saying ""Well if you make up yr mind, let me know—"" Leo felt it so disagreeable going against his wishes that he was $\frac{1}{2}$ inclined to give up any further effort; but F—persuaded him only to think of himself & he was to tell the Commandant that it was an entirely spontaneous move on the part of Col Nugent & that he continued to wish for it; as Leo says it is bad to get the reputation of wanting to change—

B. is almost more charming poorly than well. He is so attentive & placid & listens to any amount of twaddle He took to kissing all the pictures yesterday.

I think you missed this nice letter of W. w. I shd like back again yours my dear

E. D

We want to know what you & R. tht of the lecture | E. D