From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 28 January 1880

Dearest Hen—

After holding up v. uncomf. Monday & yesterday Fr. went to bed v. feverish & uncomf. & took Dover's Powders. He is still in bed where I hope he will stay but he has headache & rheumatic pains & we feel so sure that he will not be tolerable by Sat—that I fear he must put off his lecture (it is not prepared either) he looks very m. discoloured & unwell. (I am ashamed to say that B. does not care a bit; but then being sick on the sofa used always to be such good fun, that I don't think he realizes that it is any thing unpleasant—but he does not miss him either)— Here is poor old G who is better; but being 4 or 5 days by himself so unwell is v. dismal work— On Tuesday mg. Mr Forrest came to shew Fr. a v. indignant letter from Mr Teesdale resigning his seat on the Committee on the plea of their having taken this step without giving notice. The Committee is to meet on Sat. & see if they can concoct any mollifying resolution about Mr Ff—but it is a provoking mess—

Mr Ducker the master told Mr Forrest that he shd have left if Mr Ff. had continued to be Chairman as he was always ""undermining"" him & he wanted not to lose the good character he brought here.

I enjoyed H. & I. as m as I expected & we 4 sat late over the fire—& I paid her a little visit— I can't fancy 2 people happier & I trust H. will soon be able to begin upon his eleven jobs—

I went in yr return carriage to see about the Birkin children & passed Mr Ff. standing absorbed in the prospect of a ploughed field, so I suppose we are all to be cut— I found all the children so clean & tidy & some of them looking q. hearty— I left my gingerbread & the promise of a shilling— These 2 days have been really delightful. H. & I. went to call on Brooks who was q. complimentary— ""Well you have got a nice little wife""— Also upon Anne—who was a little too gushing—

yours my dear— | I must write to Alice— | E. D—

He is m. in a fidget about his lecture—so if R. can let him off it w^d ease his Mind— What a brute I am not to have asked how R. is 

Pearce is v. unwell too  hang every body