From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [6 March 1879]

Dearest H.

Bessy will tell you how capitally the visit answered to B. He came rushing in ""Come home""— He was so full of a little box he wanted to open that he c^d not be brought to tell us much of his doings; but we learnt a good deal from Maryanne—

We had a tel. from Fr from Paris to say he wd be at Orpington at 9^30^ yesterday; so B. & B. went to meet him— He was m. excited at sight of Fr & enjoyed his drive home & was quite tipsey when he came in & wanted Fr to be the ""young horse"" at once— Fr. has been so delighted to be with him again that it has taken off the usual sad feelings of returning home. I think his tour has answered v. m. on the whole—

He set out on Sat. at 5. p.m from Algiers & had nearly a day to waste at Marseilles & yet arrived here early on Wed— He had not heard about the offer of the Bot. examinership at Cambridge owing to not understanding Horace's tel. but it does not signify as he does not think he has knowledge enough for it & F. strongly thinks so also—

He w^d like it very much however & as it is such a very poorly paid thing— I therefore not likely to be held long by any one expect that he may keep it in view for the future & consider it in his studies. He goes to Wales the middle of next week—& I think Germany is doubtful— He was m. pleased that the discovery of the exhaling of potash from leaves is thought so striking by D^r Frankland—

Well we are going to do the Forrests who were put off when we went to London.

yours my dear | E D

B. has so enjoyed his romps & [tourling] w. Fr.