From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin [27 July 1873]

My dear Leo—

We wer v. glad to get yr letter but it is provoking tht you are not in a prettier place— Though you must be a little pretty to have a waterfull of 12 feet. I expect u. will have an invite to go w M^rs Clement, Rose & Mabel to a ball at Uttoxeter on the 7^th— so I suppose u will have to send for yr dress clothes.

Horace went back to his work on Friday night, and as he did not appear on Sat. I hope he was pretty brisk & went to Eton to Gerald Balfour.

Poor George is having quite a bad attack at the Balfours - I think he must have been as bad as he was at Cannes— It is v. disappointing.

[Uncle Ras. came on Sat. & we have a nice kitten for him, a little too old for perfection, as he likes a baby to sit quite still in his waistcoat for hours]—

Yesterday Frank & Amy went a ride & came back in agitation having run over Polly. She was frightened at a dog & ran under their feet. She was not m. hurt, but made the most of it & was very deprecating all day.

Amy was so upset she wd not finish her ride.

I hope u. will get yr photo things as u are sure to have leisure—

We expect Wm in a day or 2. not v. well I am afraid—

F. is almost worn out w. Drosera, but he will positively finish in a few days & then we shall settle our plans.

Yours my dear Leo | E. D