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(Feb)

Copy. Original letter stuck into the copy of Wives & Daughters, the last book to be read aloud to CD, of whom it was a great favourite. It now belongs to Sophie Pryor, daughter of Gwen Raverat, who inherited it from George Darwin, her father.

Down.

May 19. 1882

My dear George

I shall like you to have Wives & D. very much.

The letter from F that you quote is I think almost conclusive that Mr Rich will not change his mind. I suppose Wm thought you had agreed to write, he has sent the letters almost the same as Henrietta & kept a copy with the few alterations he made — I do not believe it will make any difference, but I am glad that Mr Rich shd feel it in his power to alter his will in future of he shd wish to do so.

I wish you were better my dear old man. It is a hard struggle I hope you will keep your eyes open about the Vansittart house (at Cambridge)

This place looks so pretty & gay & the days so fine but almost all taste seems gone out of it. Bernard enjoys his lessons so much with

[2]

Mrs Ducker & after the first said "She has got me on already." He is such a methodical boy, that there will be no difficulty after the gloss of novelty is gone off.

The Litches came on Thursday for only a day. It was rather painful to feel that we had better avoid politics. Wm keeps staunch to Gladstone & so do I but I feel I cd talk to you about it without either of us getting hot.

Wm went home on Wed — & will be back in 10 days or so. Leo is here without his Lea — she comes tomorrow — to rest his brain which he feels "a good deal used up & that he can't keep his attention

yours my dear G.

E. D