From Emma Darwin to Horace Darwin 25 December 1873

My dear Skimp

I wish you were with us today when yr 2 beloveds W^m & Lenny are here; but this will be our last xmas day without you. To go back to news— Our Nash dinner was quite pleasant & Mr Nash is a tasteful nice man. He played & so did Fr & I—& Mrs Nash is a gt talker. We discussed Mr Ff & Mr N. promised to attend the meeting on Tuesday & vote. He is coming to luncheon tomorrow & we shall hear what passed; but the essential is that we have got the Infant School for the Reading Room, which does exactly as well as the other in every respect but opening into Mrs Laslett’s room’s–-so that she will hear the noise— She takes it very goodhumouredly however & says she shall not mind—

Yesterday I had an official letter from Mr Ffinden notifying this to me & beginning Madam!

Also going on to say that F. had no business to apply to the Privy Council in the matter, as he Ff. is the only authorized channel of communication, & that he had undertaken to apply himself. So he had offered but I had not agreed— He ends by saying there are several mis-statements in the letters (meaning F’s letters I conclude, as none others were read).

Mr Nash is coming to lunch tomorrow & then we shall hear what passed; but I am very unwilling for F. to enter into any controversy with him. It will of course come to a coolness but I hope to avoid a cut, as unpleasant to myself

Bessy went to the Shaen's ball with F. & Lenny & they all liked it. They are verging towards the Bromley ball w. Amy—

The Litches are here—& Hen. very well— She & George are both taking Nux vomica like you, think it suits them. George is m. better & going to Lord Rayleigh’s whereby he will miss Mrs F. who comes on Sat week—

Yours my dear old Man | E. D

Wm is still hankering after his bit of land; but he is afraid it is too lonely— | I send your Engineer