From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 17 February 1881

Dearest H.

I hope you got yr respirator I sent it by 2^nd post yesterday. Yesterday was q. lovely in the P. M. & I went out & sat for some time. Today does not seem to be going to behave as well— Margt—is very pleasant & sympathetic; but I feel that with so clever a person as she is I want to have her own opinions & not a reflection of Mr Shaens—

Yesterday evg. a messenger came to say that Old Mrs Lyne had died suddenly & they wanted Frank to come & see her, which he wisely declined— Mrs Ev. said to him ""I don't like to tell M^rs; for fear it should upset her."" She little knew my feelings, & Dickson said ""What a dreadful thing it was—so sudden""— (She is the dirty old woman—& I wish I had looked after her sooner—not by way of keeping her alive tho'.

Frank heard from the Teesdales that Sir John was going to be married to a Miss Greg—a cousin of Lady L— I can hardly believe it—but it is only a confirmation of what one so often knows that the most miserable widowers marry the soonest. I don't fancy Mrs Mulholland will remain at High Elms in that case—

Did I tell you how successful Frs lecture was. He came home pleased & said that he thought they really liked it— Whitmores Ned Norman, Lord Sackville &c—

Here is a very feeling letter from Caroline Miles, w. I suppose Hensleigh might like to see— I have written my letter to Harry— We were v. glad of yr card about Eras. & I hope we may find him next week almost in his usual state— I am sorry you are not coming—but it is well bestowed on Laura

yours my dear

(I don't think Bessy's visit was flat & they asked her to stay longer—