My dear M^rs. Darwin

Thank you much for your two kind notes.² I could not write yesterday, as I had to be in town— I think Joseph & D^r. Gray will not be able to accomplish their visit to you until after the 12^th., as D^r. & M^rs. Lombe will be with us during the previous week—³ But I fear that I must not hope to have the pleasure of accompanying them—for my governess⁴ is just going away for a month’s holiday, & in her absence I cannot well leave home—

It is very kind of you to wish Harriet⁵ to go to Down, and I shall very gladly accept your invitation should you like to receive her at any time during her holiday—

I am sure she would greatly enjoy a little visit to you, & would delight in the pleasures of the country, as she has by no means outgrown a girl’s fondness for animals of all sorts.

Willy looks pretty well, but we are charged to be extremely careful of him—⁶ his father has not yet decided what to do with him this winter—

Believe me | Yours affect^ly | F H Hooker

Kew W.

Sep. 24.