From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [20 September 1879]

Dearest H—

You will be v. happy today expecting R. tomorrow & he must have a beaut passage— It is provoking how soon being at work at home takes all the spirits & strength out of F— He is r. below par & dreading Sir J's visit I am afraid. The Clarks Hawks are down below & will dine w. us today to meet them. They have the 3 youngest w. them & they had a long play at the boat & slide *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q w. B— Oliver & Mildred are both v. pretty. The little girls w. petticoats not reaching their knees; but as they have not such long thin legs—not so unbecoming as little Musgrave—

They have lightened Uncle F's visit here v. m. as he has dined twice below & *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q the 2 bros & B. dined there too so F. & I had a v. snug evening. Not but what he is a most easy visitor, as he reads incessantly & is always ready to talk & always attracted by B— He began a story to him about 3 little pigs & as soon as B. perceived that the fox w^d get into the pigs house, he looked distressed & said I don't like that"" & Frank had to change it into a good fox & alter the whole story— He is quite absorbed in bands & coaches & did not care a penny for a charming book sent him by Ida—

The present game looks quite awful— Fr. rushing along the passage w. B on his shoulders & G. catching him. B. twists & looks round & swings about—but I think Fr will not go so fast in future. The gt talk about Lett. is to come off w. Sir J. I am convinced by Lett's dejected manner that it will be a relief to him— He is better & at work every day—but told me he had rather die than go thro such an illness again— He is so miserable before he gets up in the morning.

At F. went yesterday to B—mouth & Ida & Claud tomorrow to Weston— I wish I had taken courage to write sooner to invite her; as owing to her engagements she can only manage to give us 5 or 6 days before T.H. & Effie return home—

I can't help hoping that the worst of it is over w. Effie— Eras. thought her m. better he told George—

I was q. glad to hear from Horace, that if they had no other way of meeting they had settled to meet at No 6. on her way to Weston—& I dare say they will do it still. She meant to tell her father but not in time for him to stop it— I think if her letters of 27 pages follow her every where, something will transpire & a v. good thing it wd be both w. the Rotherys & W. Farrers—

T.H. had not written to Ida to give his consent—some days after his letter to me— I am sorry W^m & Sara can't come today to meet Hookers (& a Miss M'Gilvray who has lately lost her mother & I am afraid will think our Sunday wicked & find us too cheerful (a niece of Sir J)—

Virchow & Dr Vries are at High Elms today, & are sure to come over *P [symbol for tomorrow] *Q. G. & F. were asked to meet them. Lady L. had a most alarming attack 2 or 3 days ago—suppose to be cramp in the stomach They had Mr Hughes several times in the day— Leo. & Fr actually called there on Sunday—

I have started Fr a little w. the bassoon. again, but I am afraid he won't keep it up— B. goes on Monday to Sheerness—she had better take a good stock of books—

Yours my dear | E . D—

I am so sorry you keep poorly w. yr digestion