From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin 9 January 1876

My dear Leo—

I did not forward your railway information to George as he wd have left Marseilles & I am in some hopes he may arrive at Malta by Tue. 11.

The weather is horrid here for these 3 last days, a deepish snow & strong N.E. wind— Horace wrote us a famous long account of the Abinger ball & I think Uncle Ras. prophecy that he will become quite a M^me. De Levigné will be fulfilled. He met Mab. in London & they travelled to Abinger together & found the house overflowing with young Ladies all very pretty. The ball was capitally managed on unfashionable principles & the men all stoked up; which however was not necessary as the ladies were in the minority. 3. Miss Erskines all pretty. He says he had much chaff with Lily who was prettier than ever. The next day they went on foot with the Beagles to Deer Leap & it was bright & pretty & the following day he went to his pumping station at Brighton. He found the fitters had been ordered off work by the Union; & Easton & Anderson think a lock out will be quite necessary— They are trying to get non-union men to Erith; but they are always met & turned back by bribery they think w. is any how better than intimidation

The Franks & Bessy have been to Q. A. for a ball at the Shaens which proved small & pleasant. Aunt Caroline keeps so wonderfully stationary that I think there must be some hope for her. Lucy is expecting her confinement & has to leave them & go into Ipswich to be near a Dr they can trust. I am afraid they must feel the cold in poor little lodging houses on the East coast—

Aunt Eliz. is comfortable at Bournemouth & finds great comfort in talking about Edmund with his father & being with those nice children. Lena is at Cannes & it is all the better  They had a school Committee on Sat & the Members wanted to appoint Frank as Treasurer; but Ff. said he could not work with him, so they contented themselves with asking Fr. to look after the school w. is a difficult thing to do  George wil tell you his own news; but I think his journey to Marseilles was quite prosperous & he very tolerable.

yours my dear old man | E. D

I have never thanked you for yr pleasant acct of yor xmas day. I am afraid there is no doubt about the 3 young girls drowned in the Nile being Gurney’s sisters