From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [7 May 1879]

Dearest H.

I was v. glad to get yr pleasant letter but I am afraid you were not very sharp (I think Effie is too rash wandering out at that time; tho' it w^d be very nice to be so fearless; How wonderful to hear of At F. dining at table)— We arrived here at 12 yesterday & soon after lunch F went alone to Mr Rich as he thought they w^d be more easy for the first interview alone. He found Mr R. at his luncheon w. he continued q. comf.

They had a quantity of talk chiefly about books. History is his chief specialty, so that I am surprized that the cares so m. about F's work—

He said he made great friends of his servants as he had nobody else to talk to, w. is not q. true as the wicked old Cap. Trelawney lives close by, & he sees him a good deal. He also said that if he had not left the money to F. it wd have been to some charity, w was a doubtful good, or he shd have advertized for next of kin— This place fills us w. astonishment, as to who can come to fill the good hotel & rows of handsome new houses— It is more stupid than St Leonards & v. like it— The shore muddy & the sea going out an immense way. What could possess Mr Rich to build here even when his house was in the country; now he has to wall out his neighbours. The coast is so low as to be invisible on each side. There is a bitter N. wind & the only possibility yesterday was to walk under the lea of the houses & run the gauntlet whenever you came to a cross street. It is as cold as winter. It has already done F. good & he can sit doing nothing as if he was at the water cure—

His head had got so full of the old D^r that it bothered him & he could not drive the subject away. I will tell you what I think of Mr Rich this p.m— A very prosperous letter from G. thinking well of all his doings & some new thing turning up about the sun w. surprizes him as the sun has been so m. investigated. Sir W. Thompson has sent him his book— Horace came home on Monday night. He likes Aunt Anne v. m— The visit was a little spoilt by good old Miss Travers being there all the time (you remember the quaint old lady at the wedding) H. took Sara a walking ride upon a v. quiet poney on trial, w. has a good walk. About v. Hafens I am afraid it will not do for him to think we are anxious about his keeping away— It is an insoluble problem. You heard of the kind Miss Penningtons understanding Bertha also, w. may be the making of her— Also Mrs Mitchinsons daughter has got a situation as Lady Clerk in some assurance Co. Ludgate Hill £30 a year— If she can but keep it— Also Mrs Alexander's poor lady is dead, & another of At E's clients gone to live w. her brother. So she is looking up— I unfortunately let out about the v. Hafens to At Eliz. w. made her r miserable; so I had to send them a pr of blankets to satisfy her—

P. M. We went in a fly because of the bitter wind—& walked back— He is a v. nice old gent—but I was a little disappted in the appearance of any superiority about him. He was nice & cordial & took us all over his house & little domain— His shrubs grow wonderfully & will before very long hide the slate roof of the new church which breaks his heart. He gave us a very good luncheon & we came away at 2.30— He talks of building a new kitchen & new rooms & hopes we shall visit him; but I hope better things. He shewed us a letter from an old lady a neighbour trying to convert him which shews him to be amiable. He was full of the behaviour of his kitchen range which he seemed to consider a personal enemy—

His drawings are very pretty & chiefly of Bettws y. Coed & I believe that place w^d suit us better than the lakes as the beauties are so near & it is a confluence of 3 rivers.

We had once thought of going on to Basset this p.m. but found there was nothing but what was too late or 2 early—so we shall be at Basset by luncheon time tomorrow— Yes we take Jackson. yrs my dear | E D

Pearce has found a concert to go to the Creation""