From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [13 September 1879]

Dearest H.

Petley's plan is entirely given up I am glad to say & At Eliz. q. satisfied. I told her I sh^d have felt it a weight. U. Harry says, ""I have been wishing to write to you about Petleys but c^d not make up my mind— I am afraid I can't take it— I have nearly a year of this house on my hands but the g^t difficulty is that Louisa wishes so m. to have Johnny w. her & his sisters in the evgs as a day scholar—& I think she is right.""

Here is Effie. w. shews 0QQQQ one way or another. I had such a horrid dream last night about the answer to my letter. I was reading it & gradually perceiving that she was quite insane, & it was nearly as horrid as the reality w^d have been—

Marg^t Shaen has had a long talk w. Ida—she talked chiefly about her f. & said 0QQQQ about Effie—

Margt says. that a new side of Ida's character had made itself known to her w. she was not aware of— I shall not repent of my invitation whatever happens. I am sure it was the manly & straightforward thing to do. What I expect is that they will not consent to Ida coming here; but invite us & Horace to Abinger w. of course we shall jump at; tho' it will be horrid enough.

I am v. glad to find we shall have R. today w. Horace from No 6— There are hopes that the M'Lennans will not accept G. as they are turned out from Lausanne & are thinking of Davos— His fever is subdued by cold douches— I am afraid the Glasgow visit is r a disappt as he has v. little Math. talk w. Sir W. He may poss. come tomorrow unless he gets better.

U. Jos. & Sophy have won thro' 2 days & there are 3 more!— Bernard is the greatest blessing & likes her— He looked intensely solemn about your message of the tin soldiers.

U. Jos. reads a gt deal w. an immense lens; so I trust his eyes are not worse. He is v. cheerful & pleasant when spoke too— After a time I feel any more talk—imposs. & last night I played for $\frac{1}{2}$ an hr—w. I think Sophy r. liked—

Bessy is going to take her a tedious drive today, to call at the Reads & on to Bromley—to shop—

I can't help hoping this dreadful affair at Cabul may kick out the ministry the D. News. has been recapitulating all the warnings they had on the subject of a resident at Cabul, & some from poor Cavagnari himself. We have made so m. room towards the garden, that we have q. given up cutting down the hedge— I shall see whether I can bear to cut down some of those trees— They are utterly wrong.

L.H.P. lunches below today— It is not Sophy I mind—but U. Jos.

yours my dear— | E . D—

I am so glad yr pretty puss is found—