From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin [early March 1882]

My dearest Leo

Your letter was no great surprize but a great joy to us. We have felt for some time that it was such a waste you should not be married, you would make a woman so entirely happy & you would be so happy yourself— When we heard of your enjoying so much your days at Roehampton with the 2 ladies & going there so often, I felt nearly sure something was in the wind— I shall be most glad to write to your Bee; but my great danger will be in letting her know to plainly how very lucky any woman wd be in my opinion who marries you—

You may be sure we will be most careful to avoid saying any thing to annoy her or shock her; but in these days I do think there is a marked difference in the way people feel the religious opinions of others. Your father is in favour on her going this voyage because of doing her good & I am quite against it, so you will not find much help from us— I think an entire change & the beginning of a happy life might do as well. But then you must be married soon, as a long engagement is oddly wearing. F. desires his most affectionate love to you. He is very much pleased— He is certainly better; but still very uncomf. at times.

Her is my scheme—persuade her to give up the voyage now, be married as soon as possible & take her with you to Australia which would be quite as good for her health—

I have not doubt Laura will write to you herself— She is quite against her going to the Cape now, tho' she & we think that your exam. will not get on quite so well; but you will not care v. m. about that now  As time is so very short I will send this letter up to you, in case any thing we say might make you wish to hve a little more time to consult her. One of my objections to her going is the losing of 3 months happiness (in gt part) & the other is that if you go together to Australia you will be drowned together but in this case she will be drowned by herself—

Yours my very dear old man | ED