From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [4 May 1881]

Dearest H—

Could not you come on Friday as you can't stay over Monday? that w^d be much nicer. Bernard's troubles are I think over— Marianne did not come up yesterday & he said he shd go & call upon her; but it went out of his head—

Frank is in a very depressed way about his work & every thing else & I think he had better break off every thing & go—

I am so sorry for poor Ellen. Her affections are so lively that I am afraid the wish for health & life must be quite vivid. I can't think how Gladstone can propose the monument for Lord B. with any degree of sincerity. It is not that he thinks Lord B in the wrong upon almost all public questions, I can fancy getting over that difficulty; but that until 10 years ago no party believed him to have any principle. I think the handsomeness about him has been rather immoral. Every liberal vieing with the rest to do him honour— The Dean's Sermon seems to have been outspoken in some degree—

(À propos to cups I was tempted by the Shrewsbury pattern but thought it coarsely done)—

There is an interesting paper in the Fortnightly on vaccination w. I am afraid shews conclusively that the effect is much weakened in the last 20 yrs— They say the modern way is to ""scarify"" the arm, & is more effectual w. I believe only means to ""scratch"" but it wd be much horrider for the babies—

We have not had half rain enough & yesterday was as bitter as ever. We have nearly finished Denise for the 3^rd time w. fresh pleasure—

The ""conversations"" were so appreciated by the party esp. Mr Huxley & Mrs Hali—

yours my dear | E D—

You must bring or send Mrs Johnson again— I wanted to keep her till Monday, but she thought as she was expected she had better go home—

I can't think what possessed Mr Huxley when they were all packed tight in the omnibus— F. said ""I am afraid you are v. m. crowded""— Oh No said Mr H. We are all such slight figures—& so they were expect Mrs Hal— I hope she did not think it a little bit of impertinence