From H. E. Darwin to G. H. Darwin 10 April [1869]

Dear George,

It is very sad about Frank, tho' a comfort that he did well—Flower told Aunt F. H. that he was very much taken with Frank & that he was too good to get the scholarship. Newton said in a note wh. came today that Frank had done very well & especially in the Viva Voce part—wh. intelligence surprised Frank very much as he didn't thk he'd done it well. I can't help thinking he might have got it if they had allowed time for dissecting. There have been cogitations ab^t his profession & it has eventuated in Doctoring being seriously talked about. it seems the only opening & then if he branches off to science it isn't waste time. He has a clever plan by wh. to keep in college. For you not to give yup your rooms but to let hem to him, but this he'll talk to you about.

We've had a very unpleasant event this week. The immaculate Tommy has thrown Father. they were cantering over Keston Common when Tommy tripped & fell bang down—so completely head over heels that his ears & the pommel of the saddle were the two parts muddied. Father of course imitated Tommy's movements & w^d not have been hurt at all if tommy had not hit him a fearful blow in the back. This numbed his back & prevented his getting up, but as it was a frequented place someone soon came to his help & he was takeninto a house & lay down on a sofa for a bit— after $\frac{1}{2}$ an hour Tommy was caught & as the fly Father ordered was very long in coming he got on Tommy & was led home. he came in m. exhausted & in considerable pain—but Spingle is sure no bones were broken & that it is only a flesh bruise. This happened on Thursday He is now able to hobble about the room a little & only in m. pain when he moves & tho' he is a good deal shaken & upset we hope he is on the road to be quite well. But it is very bad that all confidence in Tommy is gone. It isn't only once or even twice he has badly stumbled in a canter & it seems that it must be something in his way of going wh. is downright unsafe. I fear another Tommy will never be found & I fear Father's nerve will be consdierably shaken—so it is altogether a bad job. [Eupha[Sophia]] went on Thursday after a most pleasant visit. She is quite the pleasantest person I know—so invigourating & amusing—I feel as if I sh^d be a better woman if I lived with her. We all fell down & worshipped. I thk it is remarkable considering how many people have fallen down, how perfectly unconceited she is, & unselfconscious.

Horace came on Friday straight from Cam. he did better than he expected, as it wasn't ""book work"" better than Wyatt to his surprise. Wyatt is going to stay another year at Southwold, he believes, and this I hope will quite settle Horace to do the same. Today Ruck & Lenny have come from Woolwich & the 4 boys & Bobby have been v. happy woldly scrimmaging in the lawn enjoying our 1^st summer day. I feel whole acres better since the weather changed & qu. enjoyed an hour's ride with Jemmy this morning. Both Frank & Jemmy approve of Grizzel. I hope you won't sit very heavily on her. Oh I forgot you bought her as you may say.

I'm going to have a little dawg & if I don't care for it Frank is to have it. I spose you w^dn't bring me over a persian kitten wh. is what my sould yearns after. To think of you coming home in 10 days is most ridiculous  You are bound to look in here you know, if only for 12 sweet hours of bridal white.

Did I tell you M^r Sutherland came & was very nice—& told us how you dare chaff the Tennis markers & make the court echo again with yr nativelike french.

Goodbye G. your H.

What a nice letter of F. W. C.

Sunday morn. Father m. better Mother says. Have nuffin m. t say. Lovely heavenly day again. Paris m. be getting nice.