From H. E. Litchfield to Emma Darwin [September 1871]

Dearest Mother.

Your two letters have been most sweet t me tho' your last contains two pieces of bad news—tht F. is not so well & that Lady L. means t give me a present. I think it is clear she must have had some sort of prick with regard t me. Well, our two paths will only cross occasionally—

I like the phos very much also of myself. As R. says really you look almost pretty. I go further & say quite, in one of them. You mistake in thinking the ones of R. are duplicates so will you kindly send it to me to Hotel in Paris by same port you get this so that I may judge between them all. Also Adophe Bean particularly requests all proofs to be returned, which of course we will do after considering them well.

We are in v. nice quiet rooms here & I am going t indulge in a day of bed. R. is now gone out walking—& will reappear with my lunch. I wish I had been able t start in a less crippled condition altho' it makes me very happy [t] be taken care of. but it is too sacred t write about even t you my own darling Mother.

Now I've left you I begin—only just begin t appreciate yours & Father's love—all these 28 years of tender loving care. I can't write about it but I do think of it & know how blessed amongst women I am t have had such a youth & childhood. We shall certainly cross on Monday.

Best of loves to F & Bessy | yours ever | Harriet Litchfield

If there is any grand flourish in the B. Record mind you keep it