From Rose Wedgwood to Horace Darwin 11 August [1876]

Dear Horace

I am afraid you must have been wondering for a long time why I have not written to you about your visit to propose a definite time for it but I have only just got home from Fontainebleau & been pretty busy ever since   We hope you will be able to come to us for the first fortnight in September; in fact any day after the 28^th. of this month we shall have a room at your disposal & shall be most happy to receive you.

Leonard seems to think that the first week in September will be the show-week at the Manoeuvres so we hope you will be able to be here then. I think it will be such fun seeing something of the goings-on on Cannock Chase. Mab & I have not seen Leonard yet for unfortunately he chose the Sat & Sun before we got back for coming here & he did not turn up last Saturday. We wanted him very much to go to a ball with us last week but he has no dress clothes: however he said if he and one or two of his brother officers could get leave they might perhaps screw up their courage to come in uniform but of course he did not like to do that alone. but alas they never turned up so I suppose their courage oozed out like Bob Acres’s.

George is going to give us a little visit on Wednesday on his way south. it will be so delightful having him: I do hope we shall be able to keep him over Sunday & get Leonard to come & meet him but I am beginning to get quite nervous for fear every thing should not be comfortable for him & my cook should not be up to the mark. it would be so dreadful if he was uncomfortable at Barlaston for it is such a privilege to have him. I cant quite remember whether I wrote to you since your last letter but I dont think I did   I’m so glad you like your work at the shop & that you dont find it too hard, but I dont understand whether you have done with Cambridge altogether or whether you are going back after the long.

How nice it is to have a cousin to tell things round; I’m very glad I know what M^r Wright thinks of my work; I always wanted to. I knew he would think me a slow worker; it is a very true bill   I am one. I have done nothing since the course left off; there never was much time at Fontainebleau; but I must begin again in earnest now.

We have Cicily & all the children here now so we are a very jolly party   they are going to stay till the 28^th..

I hope the beginning of Sept will suit you to come to us: it will be the nicest time to come: but if it should not we will arrange a time later on; it will suit us equally well.

Your affec^ate. cousin | Rose Wedgwood