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

Dearest H—

I hope R. was not utterly done up by the Cam. exped— Here we had violent showers every hour the worst of all just before our Scientifics appeared— The ladies found flys enough but the gents came in by detachments for more than an hr, w. made it very fatiguing for F— They were nearly 50 in number—& F. was getting v. m. done up before I could get him away

He gave up the thoughts of the little Geolog. lecture w. he had planned—& I was glad of it as the exertion wd have been great, he gave a 5^m. lecture on Drosera—w. they enjoyed.

We recd them in the Drawing room w. the Veranda open & Claret cup— wine & lemonade & biscuits— These were m. appreciated after the hot walk. The Englishmen were harmless & modest, but the Germans were most objectionable especially a Mr Wartegg who has travelled & written some bumptious letters to F—& Frank was q. pleased to find he was as forward & horrid as his letters seemed to be. We moralized that a vulgar German was m. horrider than a ditto English— Two or 3 were gentleman & I think they were all pleased tho' the 2 or 3 last only saw F. for 5. m. They took a little walk beyond the kitchen g—& then walked to the village to their carriages having been a little more than an hour—

G. came home ⁠⟨⁠⁠⟨⁠delighted⁠⟩⁠⁠⟩⁠ w. Old Reginald who is quite as jolly as his letters seemed to be. He thought Buxton v. pretty (& I find it was Harrogate that I was thinking of as such a dismal bleak place). He found that Mr Rhodes Darwin was detested by all the connections but very civil to him. Here is G.'s account which please return, also you may send on U. Frank to At C.

F. only appeared at dinner & is tol. rested today— I stayed in bed till 11. & that is a great rest— Every body is in good spirits & Gurney & G. Balfour q. affable, but Gurney shewed the cloven foot a little bit at dinner—don't ask Frank.

It is just too rainy for Lawn Tennis—but they have sat all mg. in the veranda Harriet painting. of w. she does a gt deal for payment. She is nice & simple & confidential I don't think Mrs G. q. so attractive as she was, & I am now confident that she did paint eyes & dye hair but does not now—

George goes today; ⁠⟨⁠⁠⟨⁠but⁠⟩⁠⁠⟩⁠ engages to come on the 24^th—w makes me quite sure I shall not have to call on you for help. & I shd have been v. sorry to interfere w. the Sunday walk—it wd have spoilt it so m. for R—

Bessy likes Mrs Gurney a good deal & took a walk w. her— Mr Dyer is v. nice— I never saw a face so changed in ⁠⟨⁠⁠⟨⁠expression⁠⟩⁠⁠⟩⁠ as Harriets from the old [snubbed] look—

Please do send Geo. letter to W^m. & U. Frank's to At Caroline—

yours my dear | E. D—