From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [25] November 1879

Dearest H—

I was v. glad to get yr Cambridge letter. I was surprized you did not speak better of Sunday, in point of weather, as we thought it lovely here & they all walked in spite of the v. bad state under foot. I trust Ida was allowed to stay yesterday—but what a day it was, the thickest of fogs. We were vexed at the Huxleys not appearing—by way of killing 2 birds w. 1 stone; but it certainly made the Ogle's visit pleasanter to them & to us; we got m. more intimate w. Mrs Ogle & liked her all the more, & Dr O. came out in conversation so v agreeably & amusingly. I think she adores him & is quite happy, not that her life is q. smooth; as he is always poorly & uncomf in London. Louy went away in a disagreeable fashion, coming to Mrs O. & saying the food was so bad she c^d not stay, she also upset the other maid whom Mrs O. liked, & she did not believe there had been any thing to complain of, however she has got a good situation (I have had a good character & secured Eliz Bradford) We made Mrs O. sing a good deal w. she does tastefully but has lost all pleasant tone in her voice. It is v. odd that the singer never learns that in time. She played a little too; but never practises.

At Eliz. is waiting at home for the weather to change, all the more willingly as by this means she does not fall in w. Alfred— Bern. has taken to the bricks again & is always building Na's house & telling how her cats behave—Poor Na! I shall be glad to hear that she has not caught a dreadful cold in her cottage—

Amy has been clucking over Lily in a most happy state Uncle Fr says— She sent Harriet [Tasker] a complete list of every thing she had bought for her, as they had consulted together over the matter & I have no doubt Harriet is properly interested.

Please to put the right date in the enclosed note either from Wed 3^rd to Sat 6. or from Mond 8 till Thur 11—whichever suits you the best–-it is all the same to us—

yours my dear | E . D

Mrs Ruck has got B. an excellent stout coat— I can't forgive her for staying on to the v. last day w. Edwal. tho little Rob^t is going on well—

I am glad you thought better of the rev. than we did. I thought he had left out all the plums & probably had not read the entertaining part.