From Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 4 February 1882

Dearest H—

I will endeavour to direct this letter right.

What a horrid startle for Laura. I really hope the H's will come next week— It will be very exciting having another babs in the house. Such a fog today with the house quite full of it, after a beaut. bright mg—

It was fine yesterday too for the wedding & Bessy & I went down in the carriage, Bernard on the box. (Did I tell you that Amy M. & a Miss Buxton called the day before, to wish Goodbye for Conny, she poor soul being in bed, & Sir John w. the gout so that it was thought he c^d not get to church. Amy takes misfortunes almost too cheerfully tho' she does the right thing instantly e.g. rushing off to Ireland at once on hearing of Mrs Mul. accident  We thought the church w^d be overflowing (every soul in this house went) but on the contrary, it was not full enough to be cheerful, & all the upper half (except our bench ) was left empty out of respect. We found the Ff. marching about in his long gown in a great state of [trumph].

Then came a tall & handsome Uncle who was to do the chief part. Only 4 bridesmaids 3 Buxtons & Gerty—in flesh pink silks not becoming to light hair. Conny's back very pretty & I hope her face tidy too, as a few days before she had been in a most unbecoming state. Sydney not so ugly as I expected, but he gave the responses in r. a sulky way as if he w^d say as little as ever he could help. After the ceremony was over the uncle gave rather a long address to the pair, wh. must have been trying to them & wh. entirely overset Sir John as there was an allusion to Lady L. Sir John could only hop into church— I do so wonder he did not get a crutch by hook or by crook it looked & sounded so absurd. He sat on a chair close by us, & most of the marriage was done on the step near the moveable desk, & then they moved to the altar rails & finished. Then I came away, leaving Bessy to walk, & found B. in my great fur tippet looking very beaming about the flags, & having had a favour filched for him by Fred—w. pleased him greatly—

the screen came in the P.M. having got to Bromley & I had it unpacked & we all admired it v. m—& then sent it on with a note to Mrs Sydney Buxton, which I think must have been the first she received with her new name. I hope your maids will have taken in 2 parcels for me to wait for you.

F. dined on Thursday at Elinors & met Margaret, Miss North a Miss Ewart (By the way Alberts Gladstone was opened in the railway & a New frock was taken out—so mind about locking things)  Fr & Bessy dined at the Tomkins yesterday. Bessy was over majored having him at dinner & afterwards, when he w^d not hold his tongue even during the music. 2 Miss Teesdales & another married son & wife were the party. How horrible the accounts of the treatment of the Jews. I hope Goldwin Smith is ashamed of himself. F. is much better & really believes Quinine is doing him good & giving him some appetite—

Mrs Ruck has had an attack of something like inflam. of bowels. Natalie Kilian refuses, but hopes to be asked again—so I had rather she came  George's day of sailing was very calm— What a nice note of Mone's.

I forgot R. wd tell you about the Dicey dinner.

Monday mg. You will wonder what has become of me— Bessy is just started to the Dyers for 2 nights which I think she will find long enough, tho' Harriet invited her for a longer time. Leo. came yesterday. He proposes sending his horse over this week for Horace to have some rides w. Frank (who likes his rides upon his hired horse)  Leo. went 14^m to a meet & hunted & returned home on Sat. a foolish exertion for a man who rides badly & little. He met Lucy & James, & engaged Lucy & Sophy to come to tea.