From H. E. Litchfield to G. H. Darwin 29 August [1876]

Dearest Geo.

Thanks for yr letter & condolences— I'm really only to be pitied now for losing my holiday as all pain & discomfort is over. The D^r thinks I shall be well in abt 3 weeks from the time of the accident. I don't m. expect to be well myself but I daresay I shall be up to going drives & setting out on our road home.

R. will thoroughly know Braemar before we go & it will be a precious little bit of Scotland we shall have seen. Very luckily M^r Garrett Anderson is here—& has found us out. They are in a little house & have brought their horses & they are goodnatured eno' to ask R. to join them wh. is m. m. amusing than always taking his tramps alone. It is rather a comfort to hear that it is cold in other parts, for it is very cold here. I have as big a fire as [circes] allow all day long & have all our shawls in requisition. I send you this from Bessy to show you their latest news [She] Miss Woodhouses mentioned were great friend's & W^m.'s feelings were wounded if we said the least thing agst them even to the fact that clever handsome girls who make friend's into miscellaneous view (like him) were in more danger travelling alone than timid & retiring innocents who seemed m. less able to take care of themselves— He took this qu. as an aspersion— It shows, I think, how things are changed that these two fashionable girls are let to stay on here with nothing but a ladies maid for Chaperone. We thght W^m. might have been in some danger of getting to like the eldest too well. & as she is see semi consumptive & asthmatic besides being a peg above us I couldn't have given it my blessing.

R. has the fun of having a little [partsinging] of evenings wh. keeps him amused. There is a funny little low church man who organises hymn singing on Sunday evenings & it springs from that. They make a fine vowQQQQ I understand 40 [roaring] like one in a smallish drawing room but I'm such miles away not a whisper reaches me. On Thursday there's the Gathering of Braemar wh. I'm v. sorry not to see I shd think it must be such a pretty right. Everybody must wear highland dress. & no doubt it is a good chance of getting a good look at the Queen. Pearce says ""I sh^d like to see her just to say I'd seen the Queen in Scotland!"" On Sunday m^g. there is a most snobbish practise takes place. The Hotelkeeper has several [bunches] & pairs waiting for parties to make up & go to Crathie church 8 miles off at so m. ahead—only to stare at the unhappy Queen for there are churches of all denominations here. They say that opera glasses are even used in church It is such a shame I think. I do hope you'll get better for yr [Minto] visit— It must v. horrid visiting when you are in such a doubtful state & especially as strangers. I suppose visiting at a large house is really less gênant, however.

I don't believe you wd find it hard work [seeing] H. [Hemings]. He has such a keen interest in everybody. I've been thinking so m. of poor old Brodie & how she w^d have liked to come & wait upon me—

No news of the Event yet.

I want it to be christened Erasmus or Susan as the case may be. I'm so sick of Mauds & Ethels & Ediths etc. A good old name like Susan w^d be v. refreshing.

Goodbye dear Geo. I hope we | may both get on better than we expect. | your H.E.L.