From Emma Darwin to Ida Darwin [7 March 1882]

My dear Ida

We shall be anxious for your letter today. It is a great comfort Claudie feeling so comfortable & well & having so little pain, as pleurisy is so often such a painful sort of illness.

Laura continues to make progress & it was wonderful how she stood talking & seeing people on Sunday—

We had Max Müller & wife with Sir John— The talk was v. interesting. Does any body know who Mrs M. M. was—

They have 2 Japanese priests living with them to learn Sanscrit— Little mild dullish men—who found it so impossible to learn that Prof. M. advised them more than once to give it up; but they have at last conquered & have learnt it well—

The Normans called [symbol for yesterday], he looking grown m. older; you are almost the only person she expresses any interest about— However I like her, she likes telling me of her own affairs, & I never expect her to care about mine.

We have fixed on the 15^th for our London visit—

Hen is only going up for one night tomorrow— She knows what Laura wants & orders all for her so it takes all care off my shoulders—

I hear that Babsy's shy smile charms every body—

Yours my dear–-

I am not very sharp today— E.D

Your letter to Laura just come it so comforting as to make one angry w. Cassidy—