[1]

Down ─ Thursday evg (3 Aug 82)

My dear George ─

Hen. went today to arrange about setting the photo on China for Dr Clark — It is to have a gold rim & a gold back & to be hung on a velvet plaque something like a large locket — in a sort of Morocco case— We want an

[2]

inscription for the back—

How do you like

"Dr Andrew Clark

from

Mrs Charles Darwin

in memory of

long year of kindness—

I don't quite like the last words — can you mend them — I was glad to think my dear old man that you were certainly looking better than when I saw you last.

[3]

I felt that a luncheon with you wd be a sad contrast to the many happy ones we have had with you, & that it wd be better not to give you the trouble— I had a nice sight of Elinor, who looks wonderfully little pulled down, but she takes more food than I thought she did, tho' not a morsel of meat. She means to continue under her disagreeable Dr —

I am just expecting Bessy—

[4]

The old ash tree was observed from the house to be smoking yesterday & it broke into flame — they have had gt difficulty in getting at the hollow to put it out, — but the tree does not seem injured — Leo's letter to H. return it to me at Basset (no they have seen it — yours my dear George E. D

They can only conjecture an idle boy's trick.