From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [15 March 1880]

Dearest Hen.

It felt an immense relief to think that the suffering at L.H.P. was over & had been over 2 days before we received Margaret's letter. It is a very painful aggravation of the grief not to have any alleviation of the distress at the very last, & I think it must be very rare. I shall write again tomorrow to Margt to learn something more about Caroline & Sophy— We are going to have the Penny R. on Monday next & I will try to secure Mr Hoole. I had such an extraordinary letter from Mrs H. the other day all about her own affairs as made me think of Morphia or some other Narcotic— I do not suspect any thing else— She is very unwell & subject to terrible pains. When she came to dinner on Wed. she looked most oppressed at first & cheered up afterwards but tasted nothing but a little soup, & not a drop of wine. She sent the letter over by Mady as if it was of consequence— I am got q. fond of Mab in an outside way, so m. so that F. thought I was seriously recommending her to Leo. yesterday w. shewed the ignorance of a man— I have no fears on that score— Fr. dinner at the Shaens was quite tidy; but the best part of it he said was the walk home w. Godfrey— At Eliz. c^d not help feeling a little flat after her exped. tho' she was not tired, & she was also q. satisfied that Godfrey c^d not manage otherwise— She liked her sit w. Hope, who I was glad to find talked over her confine^t as if it was rather a cheerful subject. I felt cross w Effie for not managing to see her for 10 ^m. tho' she had Lady Lingen to lunch w. her  But Eliz. did not feel it— She is all on fire that La Neige sh^d set up housekeeping on her own acct—& has written to Effie about it. Not that Effie can do any thing in the matter, or indeed any body but her f. & I feel as if it was too insulting a step to take. We were afraid Ida & H. meant to jilt us & go to Abinger; but they will give us to the Tuesday—

Here is her last v. happy letter w. I like to keep—& here is the size of B's India [r] galosh if you c^d bring him a pair— My best love to Laura— It is pleasant to think we shall see her so soon—