From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin 12 November [1876]

My dear Lenny

Our lives are so quiet I have little to tell you— Frank still keeps up his cheerfulness, & works very hard— He takes more to the baby & nurses him sometimes for a good long time. The baby has quite got a little soul by this time, & likes people’s faces, & is amused at things: & sounds, especially Fr whistling— George’s attack fo eczema is pretty nearly over & he is altogether better. Horace came over yesterday on his bicycle & he & G. had hours talk on axles almost literally—for it was scheming a wheel with a spring for the bicycle. Fr. listening.

He has finished his drawing & sent it to Mr Easton & he hopes to have some talk with him about it.

He did it so beaut. neatly I am sure he c^d write well if he took the pains.

He is making drawings for the dynamometer in Mr Anderson’s room now. He does not think the machine will ever bemade it is so expensive—

When W^m was here last week he told us that his men Dick & James had been thrown out of his dog cart owing to the trace breaking & it was a wonder they were not seriously hurt—however when he went home on Tuesday he found that Dick had been in great danger owing to the accident & was still ill in bed; but he does not say in what way—

He has an extra man & finds any amount of work in arranging the cutting down in his plantations—as they have never been touched & the trees are killing each other. I forget whether we told you that Mr Ff. had been asking subscriptions from his parishioners to augment the living.

Sir John & F & several more agreed; but At E. refused—so the other day he had the meanness to write again an importunate letter sending an envelope ready to put in what she chose. However she was stern. She has had a long visit from Julia Hall (who nursed Edmund so tenderly) & found her a very pleasant & attentive guest—

The other day Laura wrote to Bessy to tell that both her brothers were engaged to be married— She knows nothing about Willy’s lady except that she is well off & not very young— Eddy’s lady is Lily Whichelo! Laura is making the best of it, but she had just lately told B. how little she shd like the very thing—

She believe Lily to be thoroughly good & she began by refusing Edward; which shews that she w^d not marry only to better herself without being attached, & when she had given him up found she really cared for him—

Our building has been so delayed by estimates & preparations that we shall not begin this winter, & I am not sorry— It is more disagreeable in wet & muddy weather—

Fr. furniture makes the billiard room most comf. & pretty— We have his Piano in the dining room & have sent ours to Aunt Eliz. Shall you do a bit of civility to young Crofton—

yours my dear old man | E. D.—

Our weather had been bitterly cold & odious for a week—

I hope we shall soon arrange getting rid of Fr house— W^m had a talk w. Mr Baxter who thought it a particularly handy place to let—w. just the right quantity of land—

Monday: Your (little) letter just come in—you seem to have v. small sheets of paper at Malta

Dickie is now q well & happy & was at Eastbourne—witnessing the wonderful behaviour of his fort. They are all at Pant. w the Miss d’Arcys