From H. E. Darwin to H. E. Wedgwood 1 August 1867

Dearest Teapot—

I have used you well at the begining so you'll have to forgive a scrappit today for 1^st. I've done an hour of my proofs & next I've actually written signed & sealed my letter to George! I made it much shorter & much less solemn—query whether in its modified form it will do m. good?

Thanks for Tommy—which is rather unpleasant—cos I can't help agreeing that he used too violent action in the ""dying for my country scene"". I can't help wondering how the Tommy came to miss poor Billington's Madarme it wd have given scope for some good sneers. Isn't it a yolly day? and 12 oclk & I've not put my nose out of doors— Yesterday was the picnic archery affair— It was very good fun on the whole. a nice drive for 10 miles towards Dartmoor which was not looking very pretty—but the roads are capital here & M^r. L's horses go rather faster than the wind— The only objection I had was that one of them was what he called ""green"" wh. meant however well he was going whip him all the time— It was a very freety field in which the archery was held with the Tamar on one side & we escaped & had a very pretty walk along some fields— I think life wd be perfect with a river through the grounds. The man who owns this Lipton is imbecile & never asks anybody up to his house though it is only $\frac{1}{2}$ a mile off & he is master of the ceremonies to these affairs. We had dinner there where I had a most unpleasant accident  one of the servants hooked his button into my hair & he & two men fumbled & fumbled & only entangled it worse & worse—there I sat in such an absurd position with every body staring with all their eyes & some in fits of laughter–-amongst others Miss Lethbridge who didn't offer to help but only sat & shook with laughter  at last I got into despair & suggested the button sh^d. come off to release the wretched man & my self which was eventually done & Miss L. recovered enough from her laughter to get the button out of my chignon— I think it must have been the most ludicrous scene possible but it was any thing but ludicrous to me— I have made one discovery that I don't blush when I feel as if I was scarlet—which it is rather lucky to remember sometimes— She said I looked paler than usual so I suppose I blush white—for blushing I am sure I was.

We drove home in the dusk & the horses must have had a drop too much for they dashed us home in glorious style—I am getting to like M^r. L better—I think his cousin bores him as much as she does me & tries his good breeding— The sister-in-law is an amiable little nonentity— The Blackheathy cousin young lady is truly terrible. I leave before post on Monday & there is no Sunday post therefore you must write me a small letter on Friday—& I will write you a better one— If Frank's letter is not burnt Mama w^d like me to bring it home for a secret reading if Effie w^d. keep it—

I have got Essays on Ref—have due ?s— Many thanks | yours my BoQQQQ | H. E. D.