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

Dear Geo.

Who is a [illeg] bad boy & has broke his compact? Not me, my conscience is as white as snow. it is lovely today, strange to say but after a furious gale in the night to make up. I wish you were at home to take me a ride not upon the new pony. Frank went a little [illeg] with me, just enough to inform me that his paces were infamous. His canter gives me a pain in my chest his tort is almost impossible to rise to & his walk gives me the feeling that he may rather liklier than not fall down next step— Instead of going a ride I shall do my duty & take Lizzie a walk & have a ride tomorrow on dear old Flyer. Yesterday was spent in Nashes shop. We started early in order to have 2 hours before dinner as getting a whole suit of mourning for 3 people is no joke, & by the time it was over I was pretty well tired. I had a sweet afternoon mooning round the sandwalk alone looking on the lovely sunset. I never saw anything so lovely & unearthly as it was—all palest gold coloured clouds on a green—pure sea green—sky. There has been no news from Shrewsbury today indeed I don't  yes, there has been a letter from Edmund giving a better account of Aunt Susan but a very bad one of Aunt Caroline. The funeral is to be tomorrow & then Uncle Charles & Edmund will then leave at once & probably come up to Aunt Elizas.

I have forgotten what I was going to say, but nothing much I guess, nonsense it chiefly looks like. There has been a pleasant set of letters from the boys  Frank's shall be forwarded in due course.

I enclose this jeu d'esprit from W. When you ""wright"" return it please as Mama seems to like it to lay on her table. Have I said that the pony was taken dead lame in a fore leg the day before yesterday—but was a good deal better yesterday & so I hope is improving today. It seemed like some violent inflammation  William doesn't distress himself at all about the affair.

I am rejoiced to find that Elinor is not going to Alfiers so we shall go on with Tyndall pretty steady.

Goodbye dear George, the house feels precious silent now. | yours H.E.D.