From H. E. Darwin to G. H. Darwin [1868]

Dear Geo.

This is a bad beginning of the compact, isn't it, & after you had made such a good start too & written me a sheet & a half. I'm sorry to hear you knew such lots of men—its a bad omen. I can quite understand your feelings about Strick. He seems to be such a passive nature—I think one w^d. feel stifled if you were to live long with him. I have oftened wondered that W^m. c^d. get as m. satisfaction out of him as I suppose he does. The reason I broke my compact was that I was in London seeing D^r. Bence J. He recommends strongly going to Carlsbad, which is a place in Bohemia. v. pretty & the cure only 6 weeks. D^r. B. J. was v. strong about this so that if Elinor is not game for it & there is no other possibility I shall be tempted to victimize you, for I'm tired of being sick. I sh^d. go with a maid so that I might be left for a day or two & I believe it is a charming place, but I expect El. will offer to go for she is a good friend & she never has been at Carlsbad tho' she has been often [illeg] at other German baths. We are asking Ernest & the Edmunds for the ball on the 14^th. I wish you w^d come here & meet them. Do, that is an angel. Mama will bribe you by paying for your journey. I don't suppose Frank w^d. dream of coming but Mama says I must say that Papa w^d. be horrified if he did. Jemmy went off into space today. He was going by one of those trains which start but don't arrive