From H. E. Darwin to G. H. Darwin 21 April [1866]

Dearest George

I want you to write me me & tell me generally about y^r scholand trip. Mama said something about somebody wishing you many happy returns of the day when you were inducted. What wa it. Also I am so sorry to hear that the wretched harry Hawk has been plucked again. It is too cruel to keep him there any longer—no earthly good. I am got nearly well again from my cold just in time for the Hensleighs who come today—& whom I am convinced have told me the wrong trains to meet them—and I'm in a quandary

Morning (Sunday 22^nd) Elinor solved the quandary 7 I met them all right— Oh! what foolish gooby things are french gare regulations! When I asked to be let into the Salle d'attende the man informed me. ""Ce m'est défendu, mais c'est égal seulement il ne faut pas vous promener sur la plateforme."" ""Oh! no of course not"" says I, in a tone of horror as if he had said don't play on the rails when the train is coming—but aren't they too babyish? It did seem so funny to see them all step out & collar me  I scarcely could believe my eyes. Their hotel is close by us & they seem very well content. I dined with them & my poor tongue had a ⁠⟨⁠  ⁠⟩⁠. They had such a horrid journey from paris to lyons. Their engine's wheel broke & he ran off the line for nearly a mile before they could stop him & it was the g^test mercy they didn't all go over the embankment—the lt.'s were in the coupé too—then they had to sit upon the side of the rails for 2 hours & the result was they didn't arrive at Lyons till one oclock AM. all tidy hotels were gone to bed & a nasty little pothouse took them in wh. was so infested by B–gs tht their night seemed too long tho' it ended at 5 oclock, their train setting off at 7 oclock. the rest of their journey was very prosperous.

Today I am thankful to say is fine. Church in the morning & a walk in the afternoon will be the order of our day. We shall have plenty to do between this & Wednesday when we go on to Poste Restante, Mentone, France & write my name very clear as the french mind has great difficulty in reading English characters. We have not been well satisfied with postal arrangements at all. This is only a notification of desire for a letter & I must send a bill of fare to my Ma

Goodbye | H.E.D