Darwin Correspondence Project

[Down]

Friday night

My dear Emma

I shall write my Babbiana tonight, instead of before breakfast. It is really wonderful how good & quiet the children have been; sitting quite still during two or three visits conversing about everything & much about you & your return— When I said I shall jump for joy, when I hear the dinner bell Willy said, “I know when you will jump much more—when Mamma comes home” & so shall I responded many times Annie. It is evident to me, that you must be the cause of all the children's fidgets & naughtinesses.— Annie told me that Willie had never been quite round the world, but that he had been a long way, beyond Leave's Green— The Baby has neglected me much today & would not play; she cd not eat any jam, because she had eat so much at tea; but not like Annie of old she did not care. She was rather fidgety, going in & out of the room & Brodie declares she was looking for you— I did not believe it, but when she was sitting on my knee afterward & was looking eagerly at pictures, I said “where is poor Mamma” she instantaneously pushed herself off, trotted straight to the door, & then to the green door, saying Kitch & Brodie let her through, when she trotted in, looked all round her & began to cry; but some coffee-grains quite comforted her— Was not this very pretty? Willy told me to tell you that he had been very good & had given Annie only one tiny knock, & I was to tell you that he had pricked his finger.—

My own annals are of the briefest, I paced half-a dozen times along Kitchen Garden in the horrid cold wind, & came in & read Monsters & co, till tired, had some visits from children, had very good dinner & very good negus —played with children till 6 oclock read again & now have nothing to do, but most heartily wish you back again.—

My dear old wife, take care of yourself & be a good girl. C. D.—
Sat. Morn. All right—Willy said to me “poor Poor laying all by himself & no company in the drawing room.” Farewell to our Slip of Land Is not poor Eliza's letter wonderful, pray beg Harry to give some kind message from us—