From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin 22 July [1876]

My dear Leo

I am glad you take precautions about driving in the sun—you will have plenty of work & most of it interesting.

W^m, Bessy, & Pearce started yesterday at 6.30 p.m. for Bromley, meaning to get to Leicester that night & rest there till tmomorrow night & go on by Pullman’s car to Edin— Horace joins them at Leicester today from Birm. He tells us he read his paper badly, w. if he once got nervous was probable; but it is to be printed in the Transact–- w. is a comfort to him— He had a mark of some sort “”Consulting Engineer”” & is a swell & goes every where & pays 0. He lodges w Anderson & has been w. him to see some capital manufacturers so he has enjoyed it much.

The summer keeps on blazing away as if we were Matta, many of the flowers dying, & none of them growing.

The evgs delightful under the limes so sweet. F. has taken to sit & lie out which is wholesome for him. Therm—gen. about 78— Dickie is at Frank’s recovering from a bad foot. w the D^r calls rheumatism & he calls gout. Frank is frizzling today with Arthur at Aldershot seeing the march past of 30,000 men— He comes home to attend a School Board & look after the interests of the School master, who has had a quarrel w. Ff. & has been called liar, cheat & a few other names— He is resolved to go; but Frank & Mr Forrest w^d like if they c^d to protect the next master from like treatment. M^r Teesdale talked for 2^hrs to F. & is a regular partzan of M^r Ff. & calls the schoolmaster “”your protégé”” w. was bad manners.

Poor old W^m. made good progress last week & played tennis 2 or 3 times & wrote all his own notes & read a little— This heat is unlucky for him— I find a great blank, having had his smooth comf. presence for so long a time.

Hen. is at Hopedene, w. is charming now. She has much talk w. Hope, who is v. happy; but can’t help planning alterations at the place, w. is rather sad—

yours my dear | ED—