From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 29 November [1881]

Dearest H—

It is nice having your comf. acct but the more comf. she is the more likely it is to be near at hand— I am sorry she does not quite like Mrs Harmer— It is greatly in her favour wishing for twins it shews such taste for her profession 

We certainly shall not appear at Bry. before Dec 12. See Lady H.s letter— I was a little dismayed at first; but I don't think Sir J. will be here all that time & she alone will not tire F. much & me very little she is so constantly occupied w. little Jo.

Yesterday Conny with Gertrude came to tell us that she was just engaged (viz on Sat) to Mr Sydney Buxton. It was v. nice & friendly of her. She was perfectly open & telling us all about it & very merry & happy— Poor Soul she is to go off to Algiers w. Sir John, which I do think is too hard under present circes— Mr B. has been ill & I suggested to her that it might be very good for his health to go w. them; but she said it w^d not do w. ""only Papa""

I told her she w^d be a sort of relation of ours & she said she shd bring him to see us; but I doubt whether he will consent to be brought—

I told of her of dozens of her future relations of whom she had never heard— He has no profession & much given to good works & also writes in reviews. He comes of very good blood. She talked about Nettie H. whom she really likes & also Rachel; but abused Marian as heartily as every one does who mentions her—

Margaret Shaen came in Sat's storm which w. us was nearly as bad as Fridays & Leo. who was also driving home in it, said that the horse was constantly stopped by the wind— No more trees were blown down, only the poor tarpaulin which was set up over the mortar &c was blown into the mud— They were washing it yesterday, but it is doubtful if it can be got dry, & then it is a loss of 20 or £30—

Marg^t was very happy about Arthur & I hope he is really recovering— He seems to be a v. bad patient & when she left him before he did such naughty things that he was a week before he got over it—

She enjoyed her visit & Fr behaved like an angel, called her Margaret at all rates, & even asked her to sing the last evg— Leo. was v. pleasant too. He went away on Sunday— Bernard told Frank that Marg^t was the same sort as Mary D'Arcy (w. was gt injustice I am sure) & asked ""if there were any more of them""  It is so nice hearing his voice about & he is not a bit spoilt—we have begun lessons & Bessy takes one of them.

I have heard a bad acct of Mrs Turner from her Aunt Mrs Grantham, that she will not go & live w. Mr T. & I am thinking of opening a correspondence w. him which will enable me to learn whether she has been deceiving me as to money.

Such a lovely day—

Fr came back in good spirits & they have not flagged as yet & he is very busy.

We will mind to give R. (& Annie) a week's notice of our visit—

yours my dear w. love to the 2.

Lewis is busy among all the carpets & we shall look so tidy—

I have passed on the hideous green in No 7. to the unfortunate Leo.