From Emma Darwin to Horace Darwin [3 October 1873]

My dear Horace

We shall be at Dr Clark’s on Wed. next a little before 10 o’clock—so you must sleep at Uncle Ras to meet us. F. thinks he can do it better if he goes straight home without seeing any body, so we shall return by the 12.25 to Chiselhurst.

I am impatient to know how you have been my dear old man. I am glad you will have George in a day or 2— Things have turned out wonderfully handy for Frank, as Down Lodge is to be let! I had heard rumours that some time ago Mr Allen had wished to go, so I called there in order not to neglect any chance, & found that it had been advertised for a month & not a soul in the village had heard of it—& how vexed we shd have been if it had been let! It is quite a snug liveable place & the trees & shrubs round it look old. The laurels have grown so tall as to shut out all but the roofs of the opposite cottages. How I shall enjoy cutting down those $\frac{1}{2}$ dead spruce firs, & how I wish Mr Allen had not taken such pains to spoil his hedge row trees. The rent is £160 with 23 acres which wd let for 30/ a yr so and 2 cottages at £12/ for both) it wd be more than £40 off it. I had a nice cordial letter from Mrs Ruck. She openly regrets his profession; but quite gives in & says that Mr Ruck much approves of this plan & thinks it wd suit F. better than being a Dr. F. is now at Pantlludw (is that right?) as he was afraid things were not quite smooth there. I expect he will come up today to see the house & I asked him to bring Amy w. him to look at the house; but as there is no other house possible it does not so much signify.

Amy seems thoroughly pleased & glad not to live in London, & I quite believe she likes to be near us, which is not the case w. all daughters in law

The mound is finished & as soon as the weather changes we must try to clothe it. What do you think of wild ivy. The bench is arrived & is gorgeous. How lovely Cam. must have looked yesterday. Aunt F. loitered out of doors almost all day.

Yours E.D.

I sent a parcel to you by rail