From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [11 May 1880]

Dearest H—

I will consult At E. about the room; but I hope & have little doubt that she will not mind Harriet sleeping in the recess with or without the curtain.

Hope leaves out the item whether there is a W.C. handy to the upper room, as if the stairs were safer I don't think At E. minds going upstairs if she goes v. slowly—

F. & I are both spry for the Thomsons, who with George will be here at luncheon time. Rose, Franke, & At E. came up at 12 yesterday for our last concert. Fr. & I both think we did not do his playing justice— I enjoyed playing w. him intensely. His play is very simple & never straining an effect in the least & I thought better of his tone— At E. had had a slight concert earlier, her audience being chiefly old Tasker but all her household were deeply excited about the music. He is a man I feel sure I should like a good deal— His character I think a good deal like his play—straight forward natural & unconscious. I admired the easy way in which he said he c^d not play Beet's Concert (from not having practised it so long) & I am come to think that if he had not so long a neck—I sh^d think him good looking. Rose seems to me too m. in the 7^th heaven to care or think about her future station

I shall be sorry if B’s visit to Barl. falls thro’   Yesterday Sir John called w. Gertrude. His votes were 750 against Sir G. Jessel 180 & Gull 40— The Committee I suppose asked him not to publish the numbers to w. he agreed— He seemed m. pleased— Gertrude brought me such a civil message from Amy about calling. I don't know whether they mean to be more civil— I might call on Mrs Robinson but I think she has been oddly cold & uncivil—

We are to have the Innes to lunch on Thursd. & then they will disappear. & a dismal visit they must be having, besides more than usual of her dreadful headaches— B. inked his finger yesterday & said— “It will come off again in the winter.” Poor Henry has taken the place of helper in the stables at High Elms— He must have fallen into despair & you heard of his asking Duguid to get him employed in the garden—

The trees at Cam. must have been perfect— I thought our valley quite lovely *P [symbol for yesterday] *Q tho' it was sharp & cold— I rather hope you won't bind yourself to go to the Rehearsal w. Rose—the play can't be worth the candle

Now I will wait till we hear from William—

Yours my dear E.D

Bernard did not like Fr going to write a letter for Babba & said why can't he write a little letter himself?