From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield [22 January 1882]

Dearest H—

I am glad you have taken the step in favour of Kens. Sq. I think you will feel it m. more of a home than Man. Sq. for only a few years— I have no doubt that F will get used to its ways & find it come quite natural after a bit— Yesterday at 7^.^15—in the midst of our rubbing came B. to the door ""The Ritchies have mistaken the day & are come""— To make it worse they had also missed their train. Poor Mrs R. was very m. ashamed. Mr R. seemed to think it her affair, but I think was annoyed— We made them as welcome as we c^d & there was one mercy viz. that Fr & Bessy had not gone to dine at R—bourne but accepted for today instead.

We scraped up just dinner enough & Mrs Evans thought it quite a providence that she had a pigeon pie— Mrs R. was most pleasant & he was pleasant too. Today they have walked off to High Elms & in sending the excuse for Fr & Bessy— I asked the 2 gents Albert & Mr Bryce to come to lunch so that every thing is prosperous— Leo is not here being gone again to the Frasers— Yes I shd like to see U. Frank's letter. I thought I sent it to you, but must have made some blunder w. I am sorry for as Louisa wanted it back— It was not very decided in opinion & rejoiced that he had not the settling of the question—

We have asked the Dicey's for next Sat. (Miss Loch) & the Parsons— If you can light upon a present for Conny I shall be most grateful. I think a handsome screen is a useful & nice thing. Yours my dear | E.D—

I have been reading such old letters of my mothers, about going to school— It is like looking into a forgotten picture of myself— I send a commission to At Eliz. in London to buy me a gown for not more than 10/. (a cotton one)