From H. E. Darwin to Horace Darwin [1864?]

Dear [Jimbo],

Thanks for your letter. I must say I thought you w^d. not arrive by that train—but at the same time I can't agree to [Boraddle's] being right, by all the laws of polite society a train ought to put a black line thus *P [symbol with a black line & six dots beneath it] *Q when it doesn't mean to go any further. It all sounds very prosperous & nicer than might have been expected. I'm sorry M^rs. R. & the children are not nice but that is a much less drawback than any flaw in the M^r. or having horrid copupils. The aristocrats seem to be in the irish line. However as they go up this Oct they won't have time enough to sap your morals—with my counteracting influence for the holidays. wh. is a blessing you ought to be very thankful for.

We had a grand clearance on Monday, all the Hues At Fanny & Uncle Hensleigh went; & self & Lizzie came here. This mitigated the pain of parting with my little angel Harry—who got nicer & nicer. The last day at lunch he really hardly knew how to express his affections—big mouthfuls & talking in a high pipy voice about his niceal[illeg] were quite an inadequate [news]. I tried the pony twice & liked him both times very much. I suppose he must have some very bad fault for he seems exactly what we want. Price £20—age 4—height 13 hands—beautiful action & understands opening gates— The first day I rode her had to pass a dead lamb right in the middle of the lane & Tommy snorted & turned round & said no really that was a thing no horse cd be expected to pass—but little [pone] went by like a lamb & waited calmly eating the hedge till Tommy had done cavorting. Every thing is so pretty here & Ed & Lena so nice we are enjoying our visit very much. There was a ball our second night—a farewell to the neighbourhood, & Lena said she wished you & Lenny had been here for me to stop you going to bed & make you dance. Such a floor I never danced on—it was like a little heaven below— I've been two nice rides with Ed. Lena seems very thankful not to have to ride & so I don't have any scruple. I think the horse a most charming one—& I'm qt so strangely strong I have been going rides of 2 hours & $\frac{1}{2}$. Yesterday Ed came to grief, we were cantering on a roughish piece of grass & down went his mare on her knees & nose & off came Ed into a furze bush. but nobody was hurt bar the bridle?. We have been wonderfully lucky in weather. today again quite like summer.

The baby is ugly & I haven't [esthoned] to it much.

Goodbye now dear old fellow | yours Retta

You must split this letter in half. It is too much for a Boy to read at [rust—]