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

Dearest H.

Our journey was most comf. & not v. expensive under £5 including Eliz. the housemaid— We were shunted backwards & forwards till we were so utterly ""turned round"" that when I called out ""why there is S^t Pauls, F. calmly assured me that it must be some small church in the neighbourhood as S^t Pauls was 3 miles from Victoria where we then were. However we soon saw Ludgate Hill written up—

F's comfort was a good deal disturbed by the quantity of trouble the shunting gave, but I was hardened & enjoyed the journey. It was the 2^nd day I had taken Strychnine & I felt q different—but also it was q. cool After lunch we went & rested & B. read us both to sleep in our different rooms. Then came Mr Preyer of Bonn, who had w. difficulty been prevented going to Down on Friday— A very nice man & met Bessy most affectly, saying it was eleven yrs ago & did she remember Bonn.

Dew Smith came in for a cup tea & to carry him off & as F. had had enough Horace whispered to Dew behind Preyer's back ""When will you remove this inconvenience"" Mr D. jumped up & carried him off at once. Some days before, Mr Dew had introduced a German to Ida who cd not speak English & after leaving them some time said out loud ""You must tell me when you wd like me to remove this inconvenience.""

Then we went to Trinity Chapel to hear the practising & a Chorale in Elijah was most beaut—

Afterwards went to the organ loft & Mr Stanford shewed the effect of stops &c (My bed is q. comf)

Today Ida & B. to Trin. Chapel & F to F. Balfour's Lab.

Now about C. L. [I] wrote to W^m to see if he c^d go over, but not liking [to] surprise W^m[illeg] has ⁠⟨⁠⁠⟨⁠unluckily⁠⟩⁠⁠⟩⁠ wired & rec^d for answer that C.L—was not well eno' to enjoy seeing him. I wish he had gone on the sudden— Amy is just going or gone to Holly Combe; but I think Julia Hall wd be more feasible [as] he is so used to her. At Eliz. will wait a few days before doing any thing. This makes one almost wish he had got one of his wives.

Fr. goes home on Tuesday— His ankle q. well & enjoying every thing. I will send his letter—

That foolish ⁠⟨⁠⁠⟨⁠man⁠⟩⁠⁠⟩⁠ to spend 3 days in London shopping It will undo the good of Baxton. It was a v. nice letter of Effie ⁠⟨⁠⁠⟨⁠to⁠⟩⁠⁠⟩⁠ at Fr I will write to Hope— I shd like to see them

Yours E.D—

I hope R. will soon get better & [enjoy]