From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [29 September 1879]

Dearest H—

I am afraid Ida will be too virtuous to stay 4 days longer to see you but I think she m^t two but I shall write to Effie to say that we shall try to persuade her— She comes on Thurs—2—& meant to leave at latest on Tue 7 or Wed 8— It will be utter nonsense as I am sure Effie is happier without her just now. The 4 gents Moore Crawley F—& L—went to Addington yesterday & of course Dr M. made friends with the verger & after seeing the church he took them all about the house— Such a monument of bad taste was the gardens, miles of purple nettle & p [pyrethrum] not only in the borders but dozens of little beds all the same— They did not see m. of the Park w. w^d have been more worth while. Then they went on to W. Wickham & saw what they c^d & came home to lunch at 4—30, w. did not at all impede D^r Moores dinner (I had it at 8 o'clock)

F. had a bad day, giddy almost all day but he is as usual— I can't help suspecting the tea dinners— I went to At Eliz. in evg & found her just gone to bed w. a v. bad cold— However I trust it is only a cold, as it is v. m. in her head; but also in her throat— [If] I shall watch w. some anxiety Laura & B. come together. I hear of a good night from below— Fr has had bad neuralgia & is gone up to have a tooth out—

Lenny was telling the story at the Shaens of the ""awful lot of crows"" & Herbert Spenser & they all called out ""just like Papa"" which at any rate shews they are not afraid of Papa— I am sorry B's journey to Kew was such a fiasco— Today is rainy & dismal

Goodbye my dear | w. love to R— | E . D