From Emma Darwin to Horace Darwin [29 November 1873]

My dear Horace

I am afraid we shall not see you today (as Leo. said might poss. be the case) so I will write you a scrap— He came down on Wed. which I was glad of, by way of brightening up L.H.P. & I hope he is coming today— He seems to have enjoyed his Cam. day in spite of having rather too much of Butlers society. It was v. provoking G. being so poorly for that day.

We have had a nice visit from L.H.P. & a great deal of talk which At C. enjoyed. Bessy was glad to get companions for her constitutional walk which she is very virtuous in taking by herself—

We are now fighting Mr Ff– & Mr Allen tooth & nail about having the school room for a Reading room. There first objection was the smell of smoke which they said M^rs Laslett & Mr Pearson found so annoying. This turns out to be an invention as we have enquired of both, so their new dodge is that we shall lose the capitation grant if the school is used for any thing. So we have applied to the fountain head (wherever that is–-Richard knows) but we are convinced it is another invention. I don’t know why Mr Allen is so zealous as he is going away; perhaps because Frank will not take any of his furniture (except what he is obliged to do so & one or 2 articles)—

How it does rain.

Good bye my dear old man E.D—