From H. E. Litchfield to G. H. Darwin [1877?]

Dear Geo.

We ought to have acknowledge your £1 yesterday but I quite forgot. There will be a fine show of Darwins in the list—

Thank you abt R. He has really been getting on well lately & you'll find him about in the drawing room most of the day & yesterday he went to end of Sandwalk which was a great step. We don't qu. understand why he doesn't get on quicker as he never was very weak—but apparently D^r Moore expected it. It is nice to thk of y^r. coming home so soon & I suppose Jemmy will soon follow.

I've given Mother y^r. message abt the Cooksons—but I dont know whether she'll screw her courage to the sticking point or not.

The [Hooks] came to lunch yesterday— He is the pattern of good nature & prosperity & a gentleman—tho' you see he's business & not a university man. She is qu. a lady with no reservations—& a taking looking woman— There are a good many nice wives in Down now if you cd kill off the husbands begining with double f. I spose you've heard what prosperous letters come from Basset—both of them very well & sounding intensely comfortable & happy & S. liking the house & surroundings.

Mother is a good deal taken up with a struggle w. the von [Hafens] who are commanding her to pay their rent. As yet Aunt Eliz allows her to be quite firm.

your affec | H.E.L.