From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 21 June [1880]

Dearest H—

I shall be deeply interested to hear whether the poor little woman falls into the pit— I think his staying on at the I. of Wight is conclusive against his caring much in the matter— I provokingly caught a cold on Friday, I suppose being w. the Band of Hope (tho' I did hardly any anything) & the children amused themselves, w. Miss Forrest & Anne's help who however did very little—

On Sat. I managed to be about to receive the folks (Leo. Huxley did not come) & then I went to bed & it did not signify— It was a warm evg. & a gt deal of sitting in the verandah—

(In the mg. I managed to have a nice talk w. Ida)

Yesterday I was v. tol. & q. well by the ev. where we had a soirée from below, & I think the playing was liked by all— Rose played capitally & Fr was better pleased w. H. F— Rose sang Faithful Johnny w. such feeling that I was sure she was singing it to him—& then Ida sang an English song v. well— They are all gone this mg. & the brilliant thought of Amy's has been a complete success— I had a long talk w. Amy one mg—& she evidently has enjoyed the whole affair— When they dined at the Hawks— H. F— was engaged, & it was all the better— I never saw Ida in such good spirits since the old foolish days, & poor old G—was well enough to enjoy—

It was r. awful his having a talk w. Huxley about the mistakes in the Primer; but F. thought he managed admirably to hold his own in a modest way & to convince Huxley that he was utterly ignorant on the point in dispute. H. said he shd go over the whole again; but I don't suppose he can call in the book. Hux. & Geo. walked to High Elms in P. M. & saw all the family. Today At Eliz. is returning home & I don't think she will be sorry to find her house empty tho' she wrote to Amy to say she hoped she shd find them there—