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DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

Wednesday

Sep 28 (81)

My dear George

We have had 3 delightful days & I hope you have been able to profit by them & have reached the Archdeacon's ─

The little Pattricks & Louisa return home tomorrow. They are such nice tasteful children & so improving for B. that I shd like to have them for quite a long visit if we cd have them w. a nurse instead of Louisa

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but they are so delicate that I shd be afraid & also they wd not venture to send them. They have all been riding the donkey & either emulation of shewing off, made Bernard quite bold & trotting. We also tried a little education w. the puppy from Parslow's but tho' these children were delightful w. it ─ B. hated it as much as before ─ Mr Pattrick is hard work, he is so languid, though interested in all F's subject ─ The field affair is settled & we are to have what we want viz nearly an acre ─

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I am sure I shall enjoy that sunny walk & wall in the winter, as we lose the sun this side so very soon even now ─ Frank had 2 pleasant days at Cam ─ Nobody there but F. Balfour

F's experiments go on badly & the utmost he hopes for is the certainty of proving himself wrong. The Litches are enjoying Florence very much & have had fine weather. They are gone for a week to Venice ─ On Sat we shall have the Moores & Joanna Horner ─

yours my dear G.

E. Darwin

[4]

Herr Büchner is coming today to luncheon ─ & let us hope that he talks English & will refrain from airing his strong religious opinions ─

I shd like this nice letter of Sara's again.

William finds the Bel. Alpe very grim & stern but "bracing" & he had 1/2 an hr talk w. Tyndall & was to do & lunch w. them & Lady Claude &