From H. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 29 May [1866]

Dearest Mamy—

At last I can say when we shall be off—this is why I haven't written before—we are turned out of the Pension Thursday—go for one night to Elinor's old friend in Nice—Miss Bird. Then Friday, partly out of naughtiness & partly be cos she wdn't be able to go the long 14 hours the 1^st. day, we sleep at Antibes which we both want to see— Then to Avignon arriving in the middle of Sat. night & off again on Monday morning arriving at Paris Tuesday June 5^th.  We get in at 7 ^AM^ & shan't we feel fine & stoopid after our 17 hours. Elinor is sure it is best & I don't care—I'm sure I shan't mind it & shall sleep almost as calmly as in my bed—one has an hour at Lyons where you get yr supper & then you can tuck yrself up for the night. I shd think we shd be free of moustiques or [auils] as we call them in the railway—Oh! the agony when you get into bed put out y^r. candle & hear his sharp Vindictive hum— You must strike y^r. match—light yr candle, get yr novel—& lie in bed with $\frac{1}{2}$ an eye on y^r. book and half on the wall where if they are well behaved moustiques they settle long enough for you to kill 'em—but Oh how often have I kept my hand pressed against the wall with 10 horse power & found a perfect blank on taking it up—I sleep with a veil under my pillow ready for emergencies preferring suffocation to being eaten alive— And the flys & the fleas—I don't know wh. is worst—I wear a veil all day over my hair—I can't quite wear it night & day over my face— You see I'm a little carried away by my feelings but you don't know what a night I passed with 'em all—the flys wake at $\frac{1}{2}$ past 4 before the moustiques go to bed—& the fleas wake night & day—I send enclosed for William—but if you think I had better come bang home from Paris I will & then only forward it with an explanation—I cdn't come home before Thursday or Friday after my long journey—Please read it & burn if you like—I know he won't come, but I want to show him I'm grateful for the will— It is very nice to be settled when we get home—I felt very despairful all Sunday now I hope we are fixed. Poor little Miss S. has got safe to Geneva wh. is a mercy—

Goodbye dearest M. | I thk I'd better come home straight | y^r H. E. D.