From H. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 19 April [1870]

Dearest Mother—

Well, I have eventually settled to stay & go with the Langtons on Sunday— Coming with the Stricks on Friday w^d. just cut up my last expeditions wh. I have been keeping for the chance of the Eds liking to go any expeds—now I am going to take a couple of excursions with my French mistress— To Grasse & into the Estrelles. As for the islands alas! they are no go— I haven't pluck to organize it with my french Mistress—as there are many difficulties. It may be as smooth as u like in the morning & ever such a wind get up—& then all the sailors are such horrid cowards they begin to pray at once—& tho' I sh^d.n't do that, I sh^d. be to the [pull] as g^t. a coward some unkindly disposed persons might think greater—so they are [dished]—tho' I did vow that I w^d.n't leave Cannes without going  It is curious how the wind gets up. This A. M. we went down into the town early—& the sea was like oil—every thing reflicted in it like a lake—& says I, Oh to be going to the islands—but before we had done our walk at 12—the sea got indigo colour & [little] white horses all over it, in a way tht w^d. have made me seasick, if not frightened. Ed & I went to see a couple of gardens—we saw 2 lovely sights—one a rock covered with mezembrianthemums—such handsome fellows with g^t. flowers $\frac{1}{2}$ as big as the palm of my hand all basking in the sun—the 2^nd. was an olive tree climbed over & festooned about by a great luxuriant devoniensis with each splendid great flowers—it was the prettiest thing I ever saw. I am sure nothing in the tropics can be prettier— This afternoon I have been saying goodbye to the Stricks—who are very nice & friendly— I don't much care for M^r. Strick— He strikes me as opinionated & concieted tho' good natured & jovial—but M^r. Strick is uncommonly nice. They live up near Whitby. Poor M^rs. Strick doesn't look much of a woman now at the end of her winter.

Ed has made Lena promise to come our drive with us tomorrow. I hope it may all be for the [past] & tht she mayn't hate it when she is out. I thk it is a pity she doesn't do the same things as Ed more. He is so sociable a nature he doesn't quite like it. Lena w^d. have been a splendid wife for William if his [hear] ideal is to have time to himself. The m. I see this message, the m. I feel what a g^t. misfortune such diff^t. religious opinions are—so I don't see how the boys are to marry—for all women are religious  To be converted from highchurchism is the most hopeless thing of all; becos reason has nothing to do with it. I have no doubt Lena's religious zeal will cool again in England under the soothing influence of cocks & hens. Here it is [farmed] into a red heat by her pet church, weekly services, dévote freind, & the society of his [clect]—I do feel so curious to kno' whether I am into the town & shop & [stroam] round I disgraced myself. I promised Lena to beat down a woman to 9 francs & I only did it to 9$\frac{1}{2}$^.^ and now up home at 5.30 dog tired so no more. Thanks for the time table— I thk I shall go to London—as less trouble—cos u see I cant have my luggage. We leave here, babies volente Tuesday 26^th. Paris 28^th. I shall be in England Friday the 29^th.— I hope you don't thk me a great wretch for staying on—but I couldn't bear to leave all my expeds undone. It will be most delicious to see you all again. Sh^d. you be v. v. miserable if the Langtons had to put off at my coming alone. I know the Hotel Chatham so well now, & as for the journey, an idiot c^d. travel alone in France. Did I ever say tht I had a most prosperous exped to Nice— Best love to [Polly—we] [are] [over] from Father & Father from [her] wh. will be quite as hard a task  yours | H.E.D.