From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin [26 September 1876]

My dear Leo—

I half expect that Horace may have written to you from Pantllwdw; but at any rate two writers tell different parts of the same things. Dickie wrote to you on that sad day— We shall always love him for his great feeling & excellent judgment. Mrs Ruck always does the right thing & settled that Atty was to sleep in Frank’s room that first desolate night. Our chief hope for Frank was in his being able to have the relief of tears— We saw him many times in those sad days before the funeral & his love for his father was overflowing as well as to all of us— He said to F. “”She loved you like a daughter”” & F. felt so pleased to think he had gained her affection. M^rs R. Arthur Frank & Horace went down on Wednesday to Wales— & on the same evg. M^rs Atkin & Dickie travelled all night with the coffin George & Horace having been in London on the Monday to arrange the transit so as to have no change after Bromley— They arrived about mid day & nobody attended but Mr R. Arthur, Dickie Horace, M^rs Atkin & the 2 little boys (w. last was a pity) Mrs R. stayed with Frank & I am afraid it must have been against her feeling not to go—but Frank wd have been miserable by himself at that time.

Poor Bessy has been very miserable & could not sleep at first; but the loss to her is irreparable— Rose came yesterday & it has been good for her, as bringing in a fresh set of ideas & yet being full of sympathy, & also going walks with her, instead of her melancholy solitary walks round the sand walks. My dear old man, it is very sad for you not having a soul to speak to about what your mind is full of—

Dickie has shewed such feeling & judgment.

Planning the building & alterations has been a great & wholesome occupation for F’s thoughts. Bill Marshall is to try his maiden hand on it & you shall have the plan to consider. He was here on Sunday in pouring rain & he & Horace took all the measurements. The baby is quite well & we have at least got a wet nurse I hope— & I think when we see how it suits the baby we may go to Southampton next week— George is there now & finds W^m in a very comf state. reading a good deal & not too m. done up w. his work— G. likes the place v. much— Our W^m the groom caught the mumps & so we persuaded Rose & Bessy to go at once to Barlaston. Rose had already done Bessy good, & the change will I hope give a more natural turn to her thoughts which dwell too m. on regrets & short comings on her own part-imaginary I fully believe. The loss to her however is as irreparable as it is to Frank tho’ immeasurably smaller— She said she could express her affection to Amy & to no other creature & added to me “”I do love you but I can never shew it”— However she has shewn it now.

Hen’s visit to Paget has been well worth while as he assures her there is nothing amiss & she had better walk & exert herself, even if it hurts her. She & R are here now will stay here with the baby— F. is pretty well & just finishing off his “”long style d& short styled”” book w. turns out v. long. Häckel comes day to luncheon & goes we trust at 20 ^m. to 4—

yours my dear old man | E. D—