From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 14 May [1880]

Dearest H.

We had a lovely day for our lovers. Bessy was at the School giving out prizes, so I had them to myself for $\frac{1}{2}$ an hour & then dispatched them after the nightingales— I am disappted in his looks— He has a feeble look like Albert Dicey. He is nice & quiet & well—mannered; but Oh I am so disappted in his playing—the tone is so poor— F. perfectly hated most of it— I enjoyed m. playing a slow movement w. him— Fr. thinks also that there is feebleness & want of fire— Rose accomp. very well I am glad to see & is now practising a v. difficult Rondo of Schubert for this evening. It is pleasant to see her looking so brilliantly well & happy, but now she c^d ever imagine that this quiet mouse of a man w^d ever suit Mab. (We are looking so pretty this mg. the trees in perfection— I hope you will have this wind at Cam. tho' it is cold dryness is such a thing & sunshine) I think poor Laura's 2^nd acct of Lily is worse than the first— That she shd have to protect Ed. from her snappishness at such a time as this. I must say I hope the end will be sooner than they expect, before she is utterly worn out & has still more bitter memories of Lily's heartlessness to look back upon. How odd that we shd know two such women & each w. young husbands dying of consumption—the most pathetic of situations

Conny L. came to lunch & charmed us all— She is a good piece more taking than Amy— I wish she wd do something in the same line to Bessy as she is evidently quite ready to be friendly & sociable w. her— She had been to hear Lowe's farewell speech & he was almost crying & could hardly get on to say what he wanted.

We go to Basset on the 24^th. if they can have us—

I thought Herbert's Gladstone's speeches foolish—& I thought Fawcett's [amende] half—hearted & not thorough. I am v. sorry the cream of the spring will be over before you come again—

I had a nice quiet Mr Warburton from Coopers & settled every thing. I will tell Dickson about helping I had spoken about it before— I think she is the sort to do it heartily— She is most kind to put up w. us she has been w. Lady Shaftesbury & no end of Ladys—besides M^rs de la Poer who had her dresses from Paris & if they had any fault did not wear them—

Be sure you & R. do not let on about Franke's playing to any soul as it really signifies yrs my dear—

They will do over the green (hell!) for £5 (worth while don't you think