From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [24 September 1879]

Dearest Hen.

I don't like thinking of your adventure on the bridge. I do hope you have taken to mending ways; but any how you have got R— I will take care to provide ev. accommodation for the lovers— You are hypercritical about T.H's letter, tho' I quite agree that their own loss ought not to have been one of the elements at all— The Hookers go today, & F. has not been at all tired by their prolonged stay— On Sunday they both walked to the Spotteswodes & were met $\frac{1}{2}$ way back— On Monday he went to Kew & she to High Elms to enquire about Lady L—who I am afraid is seriously ill— We can't learn what it is except that it began w. dreadful spasms about a week ago. Little Joseph is after the pattern of Geoffrey never still & never being amused by the same thing for 2 m—so that Lady H can't sit down when he is in the room, but must watch him the whole time but he is responsive & affect— B. disgraced himself yesterday by going into a rage at his chair being lent to Jo— Fr. had to carry him off— After a time he said he w^d lend it to him if he wanted it—

The only drawback has been poor Miss Mc gilvray who is v. tiresome, chiefly from always laughing, but very grateful for attentions & reading incessantly—

Uncle F—enjoyed Sir. J & all the talk so m. that I got him to put off going *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q when I found the Hookers were going to stay His spirits are q. wonderful. I have played ev. evening w. is contrary to my principles; but Sir J liked it when F—was gone— Sir J. brought word of a promising gardener; but he discourages us about orchard houses as he says they so often fail.

There has been a gt vexation about the tank. It seems it is not near large enough for the immense supply of liquid; & wanted emptying again after 3 weeks, & it takes 4 men at the pump a whole day to pump out 4 feet— G. & F—have a scheme which I hope will prevent having to alter the whole system, viz a deep pit in the chalk to receive the over flow from the tank & let the liquid sink away—(it must be further off at the end of the orchard) G. returns to Cam *P [symbol for tomorrow] *Q & he is to soften it off to poor old H—who will be horridly vexed—

Bessy is staying 4 days at Sheer ness & the weather these 2 days horrid I think 3 w^d have done.— I believe she goes from thence on Friday to Kew—which invite I am almost surprized at her thinking it worth while to accept— But Lady H. is nice & kind— Fr came back from Pryors r. out of humour w. his contradicting so m—Dr Moore was there as pleasant as usual. I asked the Pryors for next Sat. but they c^d not come— We will ask them again; but if Fr does not care for him it is not so m. worth while—

Laura does not come till Monday— She is quite easy about Ed. for the present & says she is well herself—

F. is getting more out of patience w. T.H—but I don't think he means to enter on the subject of the folly of his idea about Caxm— I think things will work of themselves. To keep a man out of yr house for the especial reason that yr d. is going to marry him w. yr consent is certainly unique

yours my dear w. best love to R— | E D