From Emma Darwin to Ida Darwin 26 February 1880

My dear Ida

I was so glad to find from your letter that Effie’s visit was so satisfactory. I do trust all that is blown away— I sh^d have been v. angry if you had declined the Oxford invitation. It is sure to be pleasant & your father will so like meeting you. All your visiting at Cam. sounds agreeable & amusing & I hear that Mrs Sidgwick is v. m. charmed w. Mrs H. D.

Hen. has seen Hope; but she was a little languid that day—nothing to signify.

Bessy came home yesterday. She liked her visit, had a gt deal of Margarets company in tete à tete & a good deal of Mrs Shaen & very little of the men folk, who seem to her dry & dull. Rose went home v. happy. She went to hear Hermann at the Crystal P. & stayed on 9 days instead of 3 or 4 only. U. Frank quite cheerful on the matter.

It is an old story now but still a gt pleasure to me & to F. to have had your father’s letter. It was so kind & gracious of him to assure us that he was quite happy about you. “They have the best of foundations for happy & useful lives; & I could wish her no better lot.” Here is Leo's acct of his doings. A letter from him is so rare it ought to be made the most of—

yours my dear | E. D—