From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin 7 July [1874]

My dear Leonard

[I had been so long thinking how disagreeable it w^d be to see you, so, that when I came to the point & saw you so comfortable & composed I found I did not mind it near so much as I expected, indeed seeing Mrs Evans' tearful face made me feel rather hard & unnatural.

We got yr letter & card from Plymouth, the card just written— when on the point of starting. The wind kept in the N. Sat & Sunday w. plenty of rain, then came high S. westers, but I hope you were out of the channel by that time. In writing to you I shall try to forget how long it will be before you get my letter & imagine you at Chatham.] Alice Hutchison came on that Thursday & as we were quite alone till Sat. when Atty came, she was at ease & comfortable & I found she had plenty to say in a tête a tête. It was fine on Sunday, but I dont think the boys did much but sit in the verandah w. interludes of shuttlecock. Sir John & Mr Huxley called & we got Atty to shew off his wonderful trick of taking off Horace's waistcoat & putting it on again without removing his coat.. I don't think Sir John was quite as usual, tho' it mt be fancy. He certainly did not talk much. Frank's hay was got in almost uninjured, it almost always turns out better than one expects.

On Sat. Mary Hills' long deferred marriage took place— with a carriage & white horses to bring the bridegroom, she in white & orange flowers & a bouquet! You may imagine how the village sneered & hooted  metaphorically I mean)

I suppose M^rs Hills & Mary c^d not prevent the young man making such a fool of himself. The c^d not have liked it. F. & Frank have been up to the eyes in Ping. & now they are on plants going to sleep— F. says how pleasant it is to work w. Frank who is full of interest & zeal—

George had got to Hanover & is really better if he can hold it— He is sociable & likes seeing people & talking to chance people—

He saw Donders at Utrecht but he was on the point of leaving the town so cd not do much in the way of civility.

Horace is prosperous & worked all the week. He has made friends w 1 of the pupils— a young Anson, son of the Canon of Windsor & very ""high""— The clergy also v. ""high"" called on H. & asked him to dinner to which he went— It is better for him to have some sociability during the week—

He brought Frank a brass disc which he had turned for something about the microscope & F^r said it was capitally done—

Bessy is in London buying trousseau for Switz. & has taken the opp. of rushing down for 1 day to L. H. P. to see Lucy.

Amy works hard at Ping in Wales & her observations have really been very useful— F. has been pretty well—

Goodbye my dearest old man. yours E. D—

I miss your whistle which used to be heard oftenest when you were busiest about the house—

Number your letters too that we may see if we get them all—

Aunt Fanny Allen can't understand why you go so far to observe the transit of Venus. She says you had better have devoted yourself to observing the Venus of Holwood.