Darwin Correspondence Project

[Shrewsbury]

Sunday

My dear Emma.—

I must go on complimenting you on your letters.— it makes me quite proud, reading them (with Skippibus) to my Father & Co.— I am very glad you do not seem nearly so bad, as you used to be.— I know well you are rather a naughty girl, & do not pipe enough about your good old self—. The other day my Father & all of us united in chorus, after Caroline had left the room, how much pleasanter the piping strain was than the Heroic— remember that, though I wish I could remember it less.— I have begun my letter rather late, as I & Caroline have been compromising our educational differences, which are much less, than I anticipated.—

I will give a short journal: on Friday I walked beyond Shelton Rough, towards Ross Hall;—an immense walk for me.— The day was very boisterous, with great black clouds & gleams of light, & I felt a sensation of delight, which I hardly expected ever to experience again.— There certainly is great pleasure in the country even in Winter.— This walk was rather too much for me & I was dull till whist, which I enjoy beyond measure— We sit up talking till 12 past 10.— On Saturday, walked as usual an hour or so on Terrace & then called on old Mrs Haycock —a perfect picture of a venerable lady—& on Mr E. Haycock & came home by Kingsland & ate an enormous apopleptic dinner.— To day I have, as yet, only paced the Terrace.— Carolines morbid sensitiveness about the Baby is quite fearful: she thinks every cry of the utmost importance & I believe, by night, never allows the monthly nurse to change the baby's napkins, even when in bed with the monthly nurse.— (N.B. The arms of the arm-chair prevent my writing very well.—)

I think I have picked up some notions, by our education-fights.— Caroline is enthusiastic about M. Guizot, & says she agrees in all her directions, curiously the same with Marianne.—

I have just reread yesterday letter: your account of your œconomy in fires & puddings amused us much.— A nice item the new taxes will be, I calculate about 30£ per annum,: I have half read through Sir R. Peel's great speech; it strikes me as very good, & it is very interesting.

I was talking with Nancy about Hannah Jones before yo< > < > stupidity came, & I < > her cronies, had formed the same opinion of her, as I think you had, viz, that she was free & easy & Nancy added very fond of ‘beau’s—no doubt in her eyes a very great fault in a woman under 50 years old.—

I shall not try to make up my mind about the day of my return, till I hear from you on Tuesday; & please be very open.— I shall not in any case, think of stopping later than Thursday.—

I am sure I have sent you a dull enough letter to day, so good bye my pattern wife.— | C. D.

Caroline heard from Jos on Saturday, (the first letter since Monday!!!), & she was much disappointed at not seeing him.— I miss a < >. My father, is I believe, really anxious to < > < >dy cares about.

P.S. One of your letters came with wafer open: do not tempt the girls here so much.