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DOWN

BECKENHAM, KENT.

Feb 20 (83)

My dear George

My moral from yours & Bessy's experience is that "abroad" is a much pleasanter place if you meet friends & acquaintance. Her stay at Grasse has been made very pleasant by the kindness of the Crosses, as Laura was not well enough to do things herself — They are now at Cannes & in a week or so will most unwillingly

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turn their faces homewards

Claud came up to pay them a visit with a cold — & Laura learnt from him what a horrid family he was boarding w; quite careless as to his warmth or comfort after most serious charges on Effie's part, giving him a companion in his room contrary to promise, & not food enough, so specially bad for chest tendencies — also squabbling among themselves ─

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The Farrers have telegraphed to Claud to move at once to a Hotel, wh. will be a thunder clap & prob. they will make it v. unpleasant to Claud —

The shop has had an order to invent a musical inst. wh. fills Horace head — a violin to be played w. keys — an Hon. Mr Powlett is the patron.

How horrible the Dublin trials are — It is an excellent moral that villains can never safely trust each other. I am dreadfully bloodthirsty & can't bear the thoughts of the wretch Carey (an educated man) escaping. Bernard took his 1st ride w. the riding master — on such a fidgetty screw & quite a big animal, that it did not look v safe to my eyes; but it was trained to stick q. close to the master

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& he came home without any alarm a gt thing for not a brave boy — Ida goes to 66 today to receive a young violinist who is to play at the concert tomorrow. Perhaps I shall go in this evg for the chance of some practising. I suppose Lady Brooke is dead — I am surprised at that sort of man being satisfied to play at any thing all day. Mrs Ruck comes tomorrow — She will be v. sorry to miss you — I find her most comf. company — I have [from p. 1:] sent on yr directions yours my dear E. D

[66 refers to Horace and Ida's home, 66 Hills Road.]

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[CUL-DAR210.3.71]

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

Feb 27. 1883

Cambridge

My dear George

We were very sorry to receive your tel. yesterday evg. & to find that you were not well enough for such a pleasant plan — but it will any how be very nice to have you back again. I have sent your orders to Trinity. We are all greatly pleased w. the new Mrs Hughes & he looks radiant, as well he may — They called yesterday

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for H. & Ida to go to a pic nic to Madingley woods to dig up flower roots. In the p. m., by means of the Bath chair taking me as far as the posts above Newnham, I walked to Mrs Jackson. She is the pleasantest person I have yet seen —I was v. sorry to coincide w. Lady Maine; but Sir Henry came in afterwards as a per contra — & then Lady Rayleigh & I wanted to see all the children. One of the poor little Pins, has had neuralgia all over her for some days & I did not see her — but Mrs Jackson I think is not prudent about them, having the rough noisy little Clarkes to play w. them. The other pin is a charming little thing & looks well —

Mrs Ruck & Bernard went to tea w. Miss Clough — where was a lady w. her little boy & the 2 together became tipsey & tiresome, & I was glad I was not there to try to

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keep B. in order & manners. Young Robin at Mrs Jacksons wanted a little drilling as he was jumping on the ottoman all the time. Lady R. said Lord R. was going on quite well. We have had fine weather for 6 days, wh. we can hardly believe — Mrs Ruck did so enjoy the sight of the river & boats on Sat. & it was v. gay & pretty. The Litches are coming to 66 on Sat. R. keeps quite poorly —I will not write more as I don't feel sure about yr getting this —

[from p. 1:] We were all even v m. interested in yr acct of Abbadia

yours my dear old man E. Darwin

Hen is at R.bourne & went to see Down sight v. dismal. Poor Sydney Sales prob. dying