Letter

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Summary

Gives her reactions to CD’s reports on Anne’s health.

Transcription

Down

Sat. | 14 past 4.

My dearest N.f1

The message is just arrived. What happiness! How I do thank God! but I will not feel too hopeful. I was in the garden looking at my poor darling’s little garden to find a flower of hers when John Griffith’sf2 drove up. Give my best love to dear Fanny & Catherine.f3 The latter & Brodief4 must want some repose. We shall hear nothing more now till Monday but I shall wait very well now.

John takes this back with him but I don’t know whether it will be too late.

I hardly dare think of such happiness. I hope you will sleep tonight my own.

May the dreadful sickness keep off our child

Goodbye. | E.D

Footnotes

f1
An abbreviation for ‘Nigger’, one of Emma’s pet names for CD (Emma Darwin 2: 104).
f2
Probably Erasmus Alvey Darwin’s manservant.
f3
Probably Miss C. A. Thorley, who was nursing Anne.
f4
The Darwin children’s nurse (Emma Darwin 2: 86).

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