From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [17 January 1879]

Dearest H.

It is a fine leisurely mg to have a talk w. you. The snow is coming down so thickly that if it was a little colder or if there was any wind we shd be snowed up— I do so sympathize w. you in that tiresome feeling of whether one shall be well enough for an occasion. I have had it very strong this week because of the C. Normans & I have made a vow never to have any thing like a dinner party again without having you in the house. As it happens I shall do v. well. I have been out of doors for 2 days & yesterday was quite delightful at the sand walk & gave one an insane feeling that the winter was over.

We shall be most glad to have you on Sat. or sooner & D^r Moore will be here— I shall not mind how sick I am tomorrow as Harriet Dyer & Miss Crawley & Bessy will do perfectly—

Bessy will have given you the latest B. news. He has an excellent ear & Fr finds that he recognizes the almost all tunes in his 2 books by humming a few notes at the beginning—

He came down perfectly. broken hearted yesterday, at having to have his hair brushed & was a long time before he c^d be comforted having his arms round Frs neck & his head down— I don't know what is to be done—

How extraordinary about the dirt of the Romanes— I can understand the yellow satin, they are just going to leave; no I don't suppose they are tho'—but the dirty man & broken dust pan—do you think they have absolutely no coal scuttle in the house— We shall invite Mr & Mrs on their return of course. We go on w. F. Kemble but she is a coarse—minded woman her minute description of the ugliness of old age, & her enduring to give the description of her mother's callousness about fishing. Roxy is tedious but racy & true— I am glad Eliz. is going to 31 on Monday. For a wonder I think her spirits are a little failing; & she seems so troubled w. the vivid remembrance of old painful things & said she should like to have every thing past wiped out & yet her youth was exceptionally smooth & happy & busy. It shews r. a morbid state of mind & what I believe she wd have escaped but for the loss of her eyesight. A complete change I am sure will cheer her much—

I always find B. when he is with Pearce standing up to the table quite absorbed in reels & buttons.

Well I must do a few scrattles so Goodbye with my love to R— | E . D

It is an odd thing that people like Lily who depend absolutely for every thing in the world on other people's kindness feel it not so much as those who only receive occasional kindness— Or it wd be inconceivable her not having said a word in that foolish letter about the way she was helped thro' by you & W^m.

Uncle Fr says Amy was quite low after [losing] her & it is provoking to think she shd not have had self—control enough not to add to Amy's troubles by such a letter—