From H. E. Litchfield to Emma Darwin [1882–3]

Dearest Mother,

I rather killed myself yesterday frying too many fish. I went first to 31 Qu A & then to Clapham & then, tempted by the exceeding fineness of the p.m. knowing everybody wd be out did a few calls on my road home. How much there is in the imagination. I takes less time much to do to Clapham than to Kings Cross & yet I feel the one an expedⁿ. & the other all in the way of life. To be sure its a horrid drive to Clapham all in & out of trams, but still it must be fancy makes it tiring. I found Mone looking as well as a fish & very cheerful. She told me some things wh. made me laugh, but my sieve-like memory holds none of them. Major Sykes was there & was asking me a little abt Camb^e. His boy is living at M^r Borissons for a year's coaching, who I can't imagine can be a good man to have to manage boys. A man who intones like that must be an unconscious humbug & have no bottom in him. Mone was very severe on Miss Austen's letters, specially her having mentioned that there weren't oysters in the fish sauce at some party & said she couldn't believe the letters were by her Miss Austen. Aunt Fanny said she shd like to see Maud. I thk George ought to take her to call when they are up for their fortnight in town.

The Leos came in to call this morning & were very nice tho' I had an eyeache & was boiling it with a hot bottle. She looked quite pretty in a close bonnet & new gown & spotty veil. R. dashed off after lunch to go to either Pyrford & Mr Munby's or Pyports & Lushington. It is a lovely day & so hot. I read a novel rec. by Alb. D. wh. I much recommend, ""Mine own People""— Its such a pretty story & tided me over today splendidly. Since I've been in a cab to call on M^rs Crecy, who has been very ill & looks much altered & aged. Poor soul, it is horrid to be very sick & very alone & very poor. No nurse, tho' she's sofa ridden, & a little uncomf too short sofa to lie on. She said poor soul, no one knew how long it was to be ill & alone chiefly all day. She has nieces who come in every day but only for short bits. Also she doesn't care for novels, & she can hardly write & can't work. I saw Bibles & prayer books close & I hope the poor soul has the comfort of some religion to help her. We sympathised over abusing Gladstone & generally she was so grateful for my call I must go again soon.

Has Rasmus got whooping cough? Goodbye dear Mother, I hope you'll all had a nice loafing Sunday