From H. E. Litchfield to Leonard Darwin 21 November [1875]

My dear Pouts.

Nobody seems at leisure to write you yr weekly—so I'll be wicked & give up my walk (Its a most horrid day) & write a [letterkin]. We've got into regular writes now—but the floods had got to such a pass one feels its one duty not to grumble at cold dry weather.

George hasn't been well again, I'm sorry to say, & we 3 came down together on Sat. by the 4.12. When you come home youll find several changes for the work in the S.E. Service & will have to write them more letters as to what will be of use to you & your friends.

Horace didn't leave Brighton I don't know why—whether he was entertaining anybody or only the length of [joining]— He has been making great friends with a M^r Eastern but I believe not his particular one— Poor Geo is nearly in despair over his machine—

It won't act a bit & he has to begin all over again— & Maxwell has been telling him of new difficulties wh. he hadn't thought of. We went a walk to Cudham on Sunday p.m. It was such a long time since I'd been up that hill & I'd forgotten how pretty it was. We moralised what a difft thing country wd be as to looks with no churches— I spose you've plenty of them as you've such lots of priests

It must be very horrid to see the swarms of bloodsuckers you describe & very hard to keep faith with them. Yr letter has just been the rounds & come back to me again. Yr letter to Geo didn't escape the ordeal of fire which all letters have to go thro'— But we believe we know all it said— I think Geo doesn't meant to start till Jan. The parents are coming up to town as soon as Father has done the animals. As you may have guessed—the floods have delayed things having done such damage to Clowes. I hope my domestic arrangements will keep straight & let the parents come, at present I'm all in smooth waters. There has been no change in Edmund's state—but I'm afraid he is very ill & quite likely not to recover. If he & Uncle Ch. were dead I shd propose to Lena to let Hope & me raffle for the children. There are just two a piece— I've no doubt she'd be quite content—

I fell deeply in love with Didy & [Bunty]—

I may as well mention that the enclosed letter hasn't been read—the cover is taken off for stinge.

Goodbye dear Ponts

I was m. honoured by getting a letter all to my very own self. your affec

H.S.L.