From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 7 March 1881

My dear George

It took me by surprise your speaking of the day for your return & I feel that you may come in for a good bit of winter at the beginning of April— I suppose you are going to see the beautiful part of the island, which I suppose is much finer than about Funchal— I dare say you feel it quite a long time since you went. We have the Horace's here. The last visit in Bry. Square turned out such a failure, that Horace has proposed a cessation of intercourse for a time. This has caused immense dismay, & I think Ida is very hopeless altogether. I think a sudden shock may do some good; but I look upon the affair more than ever as approaching to insanity.

Laura is here & very haggard & poorly after all she has gone thro'— But her appetite is better & I think she will rise to her usual state.

Wm & Sara were to have come to London this week but Sara's pony the other kicked Wm off on his head & he finds that it has brought on a sort of return of his old symptoms; & so they are staying at home for another week  He was not the least stunned— The pony had before kicked off Walter, & they are of course going to part w. it. Sara has not ridden for some time, & she is so nervous I think she will not continue the attempt. You heard of the triumphant vote for the girls at Cambridge having their places in the exam. made public. Horace went to tell them about it & was received w. clapping. Afterward they put all their candles & lamps in the windows & ended w. a dance. R. thinks it is the beginning of the end & (I believe), that they will turn out as badly as the Russian young lady Doctors at Zurich. We had a very pleasant week & I think F. liked his talk w. the D. of Argyll very much— He thought the D. very modest (not the usual opinion) & that he stated his opinions with no sort of overbearingness.

He also was pleased w. the way he was rec^d at the Royal Inst. & Hen. & I were so sorry we were not well eno' to go & witness his glory—

He sat many times w. Eras & always found him comfortable & not looking ill. & he said there never had been any thing the matter with him but weakness (however he had some fever every night). He gets up & sits dressed for a few hours every day, but it often tires him a good deal; he eats pretty well, & so I expect him to regain his usual state, & certainly he has had very little suffering. I saw Rose— She had been charmed w. Sir W. & Lady Thomson's kindness at Glasgow— Rose accomp. Herr F. several times at the Chamber concerts, & I saw a flaming account of them in a Scotch paper—at the same time lamenting they were so empty. I am afraid he has given up the safe employmt of teaching & goes into Specs of Richter Concerts & Wagner Operas— By the way Mr Standford's Opera had the greatest success at Hamburg & he was (literally) crowned w— laurels— It prob. will be given in England—

Your nice letter to B. will solemnly be placed in his archives— The military mania rages as m & constantly as ever. It will be very pleasant having you back but don't be in too great a hurry— We have had 2 warm wet days—but things are ugly & dismal—

yours my dear old man | ED