From H. E. Litchfield to Leonard Darwin 4 October [1876]

Dearest Leo.

I have been thinking often of you in all this time of trouble. It was such a relief to me to get home & be with them all. It seemed the only comfort to have our sorrow together. Now life has pretty well got back in the old grooves & it seems cruel tho’ it is kind, that we can go on as if our poor Frank’s happy life was not struck down just in its first bloom. It is dreadfully pathetic to see the poor little house. With all the marks of her care, all the trainings of the flowers about the porch & her little devices— I am afraid it will be just like the first bitterness again when Frank comes home— I am rather sorry he is going to put off so long. I think it will make it worse.

Bessy came home yesterday from Barlaston—the visit there has put her into a much stronger frame of mind & she stands daily life & all the planning much better— & today the Parents have gone to L.H.P. en route for Sthampton. It was touch & go getting them off—as the baby had been quite poorly for two or three days. However he providentially picked up yesterday & so they are gone—& I hope to goodness I sha’nt have to telegraph for them & spoil their holiday. I don’t expect I shall— The poor little thing is a month old tomorrow. We have periodic weighings. He oughtto increase an oz a day & he generally does. It will seem such an odd reversion to come back to a nursery again. He comes down & pays us a visit in the drawing room for some hours for change of air— Polly is very much surprised sometimes at the odd little grunts which come from the cradle. When he cries Polly thinks it quite horrible. He is a regular little Darwin not a Ruck. I suppose yr hot weather is quite over now. It has been a very cold & changeable time here— now it is wrmer tho’ blustery & changeable still. R. is still having holiday hours of office—i.e. closing at 3 which makes it much less of a grind for him coming up & down— & 2 of the cripples, Flyer & the [Brown] mare, are going again—so he generally gets taken one way— Jack is voted finally no [good—sprained], [macular], kidney disease & an incipient [roarer]. He is said to be a horse “”made up for sale””— I shd like to know what that means. D^rs can’t make us up for a certain number of months— However that may be he has dished M^r Chattell for us—

Marshall came down again yesterday for a final [sitch] about the house & I think it is all done very nicely on paper  The porch U.M. improved— & will make a delightful billiard room & 2 good bedrooms. I suppose you’ll find it all done outside when you come hom, dear old [Pembs]— It is going to be next year, isn’t it— Marshall is such a nice boy. I hope we shant quarrel with him after the manner of architects & their employers—

Berny’s home—

Ever yours | H.E.L.