From Emma Darwin to Horace Darwin [7 March 1871]

My dear Horace

The other day I called on Mr & Mrs Reed & had some talk with M^r R. about what Langham used to do at Penn’s. It seemed all very comfortable, & no hard work as that was all done by machinery. The gentlemen pupils were friendly & civil with the other workmen but did not get intimate or joking with them. Hours from 9. to 5 but they were shortened because Langham slept at home. He found his good drawing of great service. He had learnt two years at the Kens. Museum. I sh^d think Langham’s fortune was made as he has almost the sole care of that enormous job at the I. of Dogs.

Papa became very poorly on Monday & remained so till we came home on Thursday. We drove as far as Bromley in Uncle R's carriage. However the visit on the whole has done him good & he has been very brisk in the mornings but headachy in the afternoons. Henrietta staid behind till today. I have had another very happy letter from Camilla.

Mr Pattrick’s family (he is not Irish) consists of an old mother a brother & 4 sisters & Camilla likes the sister she knows very much. They seem quiet plain people & I hope will not despise Camilla. I am afraid they are poor. Lizzy seems inclined to stay till Easter & I shall advise her to do so, as Miss Marie is coming home at that time.

Here is a letter from her to Lenny. She has two balls in prospect.

Goodbye my dear Boys   I will send you a nice letter from Frank in a few days—

yours E.D.

Bobby looks regularly in the billiard room for the cat’s dinner & when he is lucky enough to find it he looks quite virtuous after it, as if he had done a good deed