From Elizabeth Darwin to Ida Darwin 15 January [1880]

Dearest Ida.

I suppose you have given up foreign parts now as you are going to Penzance I wonder you resist going to a warm place only perhaps it might nt be warm & that would be a great take in. You sounded delightfully tranquil & idle at Oatlands, now I suppose you feel quite old married people now. At the church George was generally supposed to be the bridegroom, & several people said why did he kneel so far off you; you had put yourselves so much to one side that George was the central figure which he felt acutely. I wanted to get to speak to Horace in the vestry but there were so many people between us that I could not get to him. I am very glad you have got some wedding cake; Uncle Ras was keeping a minute portion for the next time you lunch with him. Uncle Harry Louisa & all the little Kempson are here & I am afraid the visit is somewhat heavy to Louisa, & I have got such a cold that I cannot take Louisa walks. On Saturday I am going to take her up to Henriettas where we shall stay a few days & I shall help Hen. to entertain her & then I am going next Tuesday for a week to Southampton. Snow came over to lunch from Ravensbourne the day before yesterday & told a great many unpleasant things about Alfred & Maggie, it is a most dreadful state of things if true, but perhaps she egagerates. Any how she is not very wise herself for Uncle Ras told me that she was punishing Maggie by putting her into coventry for not having been grateful enough to Hoskins & Maggie could not think why she was in disgrace. There is a legue which is a secret from the parents both, to give Father a fur coat as he is so very cold when he goes in the railroad, & he would think it a wicked extravagance to buy one for himself, as your wherabouts was not certain I daresay the letter to sign has been sent for Horace's signature, a little note with all our signature is to be put with the box that has the coat in it. George is staying with old Antony Rich & soon he starts for Davos to stay with the M. Lennan's, there is a paper written about a possible cure for consumption which he is going to take out to him for the chance of Mrs M. Lennan liking to try it. It sounds too good to be true, what a difference it would make in the world—but what agonies to people like Laura who have lost all their people before it was invented.

Henrietta thought Edward looking very bad, it will be too sad if he dies too.

Here is Mrs Snow's (a former maid's) thanks for the cake. I hope you will write to me some time.

Goodly dear people.

Your affectionate | E Darwin