From Emma Darwin to Horace Darwin [12 May 1867]

My dear Horace

I have been very bad not to write sooner but I have had a good deal of writing to do, & Papa has been but poorly after his cold. Uncles Frank & Hensleigh came on Thursday & At Fanny At Eliz. & Miss Tollet yesterday & our lovely weather is gone & we look cold & ugly. Last night was bright moonlight & the air was full of nightingales at a distance. Lenny & Aunt Fanny walked out some time but I did not go far enough to be near them. I suppose lessons have been very hot & heavy. I think poor old Pouts is rather dull & will not be sorry to come to school. He had most wonderful luck at whist last night. The lilacs & azaleas have been so sweet. We had a thunderstorm on Friday night & Bobby was so frightened he wd come in while we were at dinner & Parslow cd not drag him out. He came quite close to Papa & was too low to wag his tail or to eat a bit of any thing. Poor Uncle Jos is very ill now with gout & fever. They have been much alarmed but I hope the last account is better. Henrietta liked her visit at the Cresy’s & met Miss Garrett the Lady Dr & was much pleased with her.

Goodbye my dear | ED