From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [3 December 1880]

Dearest H—

I am so vexed to hear of yr being so unwell & yr tooth ache & having it out; & losing concert & Dubba (but you will have liked him today)  Our visit has been well worth while— It seems to have roused poor At C. & done her real good— She said she had been so miserable & restless that she felt she must go somewhere to get away; but that our coming had relieved this— She stayed down to late tea for the first time for 2 months. She came down about 11^.^ & sat all day having a great deal of talk w. F & me for the whole day till 9— I am afraid she paid for it w. a sleepless night; but the next day after the same amount of talking her night was better— Her appetite returned & she c^d stand a little wine, w. she had been obliged to give up— F. exerted himself enormously & w. the daughters also & liked Marg^t v. much. Poor Sophy strikes one anew every time one sees her as so utterly dead—& quite as much dead to mother & sisters as to the outsiders. I felt the house w. that long dark passage & no carpet so depressing & wondered how they w^d ever get thro the winter. The children keep them alive— I hope the tel. came in time to Frank—

Bessy has got Parslow to chaperone her—

They sent us in covered wag. to Ockley & we arrived only $\frac{1}{4}$ before the time.

I suppose that death was R's uncle— I am dreadfully disappted at the gov^t doing nothing at once—& I expect Forster to go mad or kill himself— If any more corresp. appears in the S^t James" please do send—

At C. has just as m. interest about every thing as ever & I was amazed at the length of time she c^d talk—

Lenny has bought a horse so we shall get rid of Canterbury.

Post time so no more | yours my dear | E. D—

I have had a nice cordial note from Mary I think she likes the necklace & box very m—

Here is a French letter from funny old W. Send it back some time