From Emma Darwin to Horace Darwin [6 March 1873]

My dear Horace

I will start a letter to you; but perhaps it won’t get itself done— I am glad Dr Frank puts water cure for Geo. before Carlsbad, I think the latter is too dismal & intol. We shall like v much settling at a water cure this summer unless Geo. thinks it best to be at an estab— Water cure has always done you good—

I am so glad the party are arrived. It is so m. pleasanter for u to change yr surroundings   What Herculaneums they are. Have you ever talked to Dr Frank about yr mechanical or engineering schemes— He seems such a cute man, his opinion wd be worth having as to how far it might suit you to undertake bodily exertion.

We are just finishing your Mill on the Floss & I quite knock under, as you know I used not to like it much— I think the first $\frac{2}{3}$^rd charming & poor old Tulliver deeply tragic. We got deeply attached to Bob Jakin & enjoyed taking in Mrs Glegg as m. as he did— Maggie loses much of her charm when she turns into a young lady—

I have had a regular influenza & am still in bed, but I am taking Quinine & shall get up by & bye— We go to Montagu St on the 13^th. & I hope there are 2 spare rooms— There is certainly one— Frank brought Moore & Pryor on Sat—& they went off v. well.

Litches were here too— Frank seems brisk & very zealous in his work   Mrs Ruck is come up to be with Ithel until his exam— He has quarrelled w. his coach & left him & Frank did not know what she meant to do. He is alarmingly odd I think.

Major Kempson dined on Sunday—& was very agreeable about Crimea reminiscences. He seemed quite animated & well, but Louisa said that he cd hardly bring himself to come, he felt so unfit he felt as if he was going to be hanged—but it did him good & his night was better   They are gone home—

I suppose you get all our letters but you don't mention them—

The weather is lovely—yours | my dear sons | ED—