From H. E. Litchfield to G. H. Darwin 4 February 1878

My dear Geo.

Thank you for your sympathy & asking about us. We had a first rate journey here on Wed— driving down all the way. R. Looked v. tired & shaky & I was glad we did it that way. D^r Moore came down on Friday & seems to think R. has got on as m. as can be expected. He thinks, if they’ll keep us, we had better stay in this best of hospitals for a month, & then let him go back & begin work as a half timer— Certainly there is a m. better chance of getting better in these nice airy rooms instead of little Bry. R. has got to one meat meal a day & a little turn in the Veranday. D^r Moore’s lecture was a great success. He said he saw Stolida’s expression change twice & that he thght the greatest feather in his cap & Jane said she shd have liked to have listened for another hour— What an avle man he is & all he does know is so at the tips of his fingers & comes out all shipshape & pat— I thk he is the best company I know almost. We were a very pleasant party last night tho’ we’d no boys. Fr. was gone to Lewisham, but Father was spry & he & Sir Joseph & D^r. N. M. were a very good compound  Today Frank & D^r. Moore have walked to Westerham which as it is a nasty day is m. energy— Bessy is down at Basset. I hear that their domestic troubles are over & they’ve got their servants— We had a little letter from Sara—theyd been taking Theo over to see Winchester & calling [illeg] the Forests whom Sara seems to lime  I am glad she is an easy liker  Did you hear they’d had their sat dinner Party, a great event Theo called it, but quite successful ""& Wm only too ready for another"".

I suppose Leo is gone to the Lewins. I sometimes wonder if there is any young lady there—he seems to be always going—

By the way I spose you've heard to Horace's job at the Waterworks at £1.10 a day. He is supposed to be chosen partly because Baker will work with him & not with everybody—but he's very much pleased  I haven't seen him for ages. He spent two days with Elinor on his way to Camb. but was too busy to come to Bry. He is inventing a therm ab^t wh. he has spoken to F. Galton  It is to register wet & dry Bulb direction & velocity of wind & many other things every hour in a neat tabular form. F.G. says he'd better, after he has tried it in little, get a grant from the Meteorological Soc to make one—

Goodbye dear G. I do hope you'll soon get better— It is so dismal being just as uncomf in Algiers as you wd have been at home.

They'll answer your scientific questions wh. aren't in my line.

your ever affec | H.E.L.