From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [12 December 1880]

Dearest H.

Such a beautiful day & I have quote enjoyed a walk in the wood, which in some respects is prettier than in summer, the hollies stand out so & look so bright. The devastation of some of the finest trees in the wood is sad; but it looked worse as we were driving along by the Cold Harbour way—some of the oak trees were entirely smashed & all the woods were streaked & spotted w. the torn off branches— I did not perceive that At C was agitated on seeing us, she talked cheerfully till we went to unpack—

I had a long talk w. her after lunch & F. was in v good spirits & talk as long as he stayed. Then Marg^t took her a short drive, tho' it was sharp & cold enough.

The house felt v. cold & I wrapped up intensely & took no harm. B. arrived at 7 q. prosperous— I want to know if Bernard talked about it afterwards. He seems to have been rather stolid at the time, & B. thought Richard enjoyed it the most of the 2; but I was v. sorry you c^d not go after all— I trust your sore throat proved only temporary— We had most of our journey to ourselves yesterday, & I told F. about the letter; but he says he will not read it; however he is m. pleased w. Krause's fury today & glad that he will take it up. He is so full of Wallace's affair he has no time for his own ; & has concocted provisional letters to Gladstone & the D. of Argyll. The last I am sure he will send—The first is not q. certain.

He is influenced by Huxley feeling so sure that Gladstone wd like to oblige him.

At C. went up at 7. The dinner was endless w. a tedious dessert—& today we are at my request to have their usual tea. I had a short sit w. At C. after dinner—then we retired for good— Margaret is v. nice & Sophy more alive than usual— (F. has just come back from the tower too hot!!)

Yesterday we were in despair w. our bed room, fighting w. a draught that cut like a knife thro' the partition; but the good Anne has provided a folding skreen and we are q. comf— They are all gone to church & a nice walk they will have—

Poor At C.s bodily discomforts are terrible; but I am convinced she does not take food enough, she has so m. swimming in the head— She has nothing of a meal between one o'clock & the next mg early—& cannot take wine & is only comf. out of doors—

Yours my dear | E. D—

I hope you will hear some thing of poor 31— At Caroline thinks the bequest to the Servts quite handsome; but is v. m. surprized that U. Hensleigh has decided on his own view, in the circes—