From Emma Darwin to Fanny Allen [8 May 1865]

My dearest Aunt Fanny

I have been wanting to write to you but Charles was so unwell with some sickness for 10 days that my time was full. He is now quite as well as usual again. We had Dr Jenner, though after he was better & I was pleased to see how very much better he thought him looking than last year quite a different sort of looking man he said, & that is very encouraging in spite of drawbacks.

I have had regular bulletins of you my dear Aunt F. & at last the satisfaction of seeing your handwriting. I do hope you are getting to feel nearly as strong as usual & enjoying this lovely weather when every thing is growing & quite steaming after yesterday's rain. We are expecting Susan & Mary Parker tomorrow & old Brooks & Lettington are on their mettle to make us tidy as well as Parslow cleaning windows &c. as they all know that Susan is not to be trifled with.

Last week I went up to the dentist & had quite a pleasant expedition, lunching with the Tollets & meeting Lenny at the dentists so that I c^d hear minutely how Horace got on at school & he seems really to have borne it well & to be all the better for it. He writes himself comfortably & says Frank & Lenny are very kind, which has been every thing to him. He has been there a fortnight & it is such a weight off my mind. I felt that his life at home was so enervating. Cicely & the little man come today & I hope Eliz. to meet them. On Saturday W^m turned up which is a pleasant interlude. He is always so comfortable. You will now feel glad that you saw poor Mrs Hoare. How softened the Times is owing to Lincoln's assays. How is your heart now you spiteful woman? Ch. was very sorry about FitzRoy—but not much surprized he remembered him almost insane once in the Beagle

Goodbye my dear. I am so glad you don't believe the journey did you any harm.