From H. E. Litchfield to Elizabeth Darwin 8 September 1880

Dearest B.

I'm sorry poor Margt was bad again. It must have flattified your visit very much. I'm glad you got over to L.H.P. My conscience rather pricks me that I never got there from Lauras—

Laura has asked me to meet her at Bournemouth to help her get the house for the Edwards. He is to move there the begining of Oct. It is a great relief to my mind that he is not going to winter at W.H. I think his death will take place this winter & I am sure it will make a great deal of difference to Laura its not having happened at W.H.—besides this, she'll feel the responsibility less when she isn't hostess. What a horrid thing if Effie has relapsed. Elinor however preaches that it is absurd to expect such a sudden cure, & that every thing has been pushed on too much & ought to be left to time & absence to do more, not to efforts.

Please tell mother I have got my habit but nothing for the little Turners. The parcel came all burst open so I suppose some enterprising guard took a fancy to them for his little guards. the riding ts I hope to get today. (private but I have had to stop riding for a few days)—

Miss Ewart, who has appeared at the inn, has gone out on it & Elinor & Miss [Becher/Becker] gone into Ashburton to meet Albert. R. is going to explore Hannaford which is the house I think might do for you next year. All the houses seem to be let here.

The maids had a lovely day yesterday for their lark (it is cold & horrid today)  They set off at 8, 5 in a tax cart, to go to the Station & didn't appear till 11.30 pm. They had had strict orders to come home by an earlier train, but the delights of Torquay proved too much for their virtue  They did Totnes Dartmouth & Torquay all in their day. I hope R. & I shall do Dartmouth & Totnes. Do you remember how pretty you all thght it in old Torquay days. I've had a letter from Emily Thorley I'll send sometime & one from Laura. I'm afraid what you say is true about Effie & Hope, tho' I'm not sure about Hope in the course of ages. I suppose she can't endure the thought that we blame Effie.

We had such a delightful excursion to a little place called Widecombe in the Moor. It was a long drive & we took all day to do it eating our lunch under some sycamores in the fine old church built on the 15^th centy by some miners to commemorate a good find— The great tower looked so grand against the moorland as one comes upon it all of a sudden