From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 22 September 1880

Dearest H—

I hope we shall see R. tomorrow. We are puzzled by W^m. saying you will be at Basset on Sat. (because I thought you w^d be only 2 days at B—mouth & the next Sat. we shall be at L. H. P. so it will be an age before we see you. Could not you come down on a week day—

We go this day week & return on the Monday—

I think Sophy r. liked her visit & she talked easily to Arthur P. She q. liked her walk to Knockholt— I could say something q. cordial & sincere to Mabel about him—as there is something one likes at once about him, tho' I dare say the liking w^d not increase very much— He is evidently v. fond of her. She found chaffing w. Leo q. as easy & pleasant as she used to do.

Alice is going on well tho' slowly & I saw her yesterday with a broad smile over a picture book. He is still r. careful about diet & it is almost confined to milk— I am v. troubled at At Eliz not settling to have Snow soon. Till now the house was too m. upside down; but I am r. afraid Snow may be offended if she is put off m. longer— I will take the opp. to invite her to spend 2 days— She is in a v. amiable mood–- - (I am so sorry about what Ida says of Lily & Laura) Tyke is such a good watch dog that we think we can't endure him in the house any more— Last night Fr. was kept awake till 5 (tho' he says it was partly tea) & the men have been down several times to see what was the matter—

The policeman always starts him & then he does not stop.

I am in hopes from what Laura says to B. that she will come & see us later; & with her pretty home she misses less by leaving it in Oct or Nov—than earlier. Our visit at L. H. P. alas! coincides with the new French governess; but she does not late dine or spend the evening. Jane is coming today & I think B. will be v. glad to see her—

I generally find At Eliz. sitting doing nothing w. shews how m. more languid she is; but she has never been really alarmed about Alice—

I went to see Mrs Parslow— The nose is v. little disfigured. The place was burnt with a hot iron, & a core is expected to come out. This shews that it is not reckoned cancerous I hope—

Old Henry Osborne is dead; & his will was such that all his property wd have gone away from his relations; luckily he called in Mr Snow & he & Parslow made a fresh will. The poor old woman is not likely to die; & Mrs Parslow thought she was a good deal consoled by settling all about the funeral—

yours my dear | E. D—