Dear Lady Lubbock

I thank you cordially for your very great kindness in thinking of us, & being willing to take so much trouble to keep the house quiet. But M^rs. Darwin is going on perfectly well, & as Etty² is not well, & Miss Thorley³ not with us, we think we had had better keep our little Boys at home, & we shall be able to get on perfectly well with them in the house.—

My wife desires me to give you her kindest thanks.— We have now half-a dozen Boys, which seems perfectly awful to me, but will seem less dreadful to you.—⁴ Permit me again to say how very sincerely I thank you for your great kindness, & believe me dear Lady Lubbock | Your Ladyship’s | Most truly obliged | Charles Darwin