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4 Bryanston St

Jan 30 (83)

My dear George

I thought I might as well come to Hen yesterday. I found her on the sofa in the bedroom going on well; but she is weak & will be a good while picking up her strength, though her fever only lasted a day & night. She came out of her room this mg & is gone to bed again & will be up again presently. We had Messrs Bradshaw, Crawley & Langley to dinner on Sunday — (the last did not improve us,

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but Frank wanted to be civil to him — He has an awful laugh — but was enjoying himself. After dinner the gents retired for a time to Frank's room & then came down. Horace & Ida are at Bry. Sqr. & go home tomorrow. Horace is ashamed to find that he gets on well w. Hope, & the visit is altogether comf & easy —

I was curious to see the much talked of Phy, & I found her r engaging from her great fondness for her mother; but she is very plain certainly. Bernard is making a considerable step w. his coats of arms — He

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copied the Wedgwood & Darwin arms w. you gave him twice over & took great pains —  The last copy he thought so excellent that he wrote the date at the back & means to keep it always — The 2nd best copy he sent to Mrs Ruck — He likes having Rasmus, & clips him tight round the waist & carries him about; R. bearing it very patiently. The Stokes called on Sat. She is handsome & agreeable & he said a few words. They had only just heard of our being settled at Cambridge We had much Edgeworth talk. It was his vote that yr friend G. was so indignant about. Here is a letter of

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William's — I am very glad he put some less distasteful notions into Boehms head — By the way Hen. tells me that the photo on China I have, was intended for you, & you shall have it — I have a smaller one that I shall set in a brooch— Mr Seppings the copyist will take his departure tomorrow — A letter from Leo is on its way to you. I am glad to find that the failure is not an unmitigated disappmt as for some reasons he thought they had not m. chance of a very good observation.

I hope you are better my dear old man

yours E. D

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[insertion:] (Jan 30.83 cont.)

I can't find W's letter so I will give you what he says — that he went to Boehm about the statue & found he was thinking of putting an orchis in one hand a lens in the other! Wm persuaded him that the attitude of Leo's was the only characteristic on. Wm went for 2 days to Mr Rich who was very glad to have him —

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[CUL-DAR210.3.67]

4 Bryanston St

Feb. 1 1883

My dear George

I was v. glad to get yr 2nd letter as shewing that you were able to get about a little—D'Est. [insertion:] Baron Constant d' Estournelles is very nice & friendly — Hen. is going on q. well — They are thinking of moving into lodgings as they do not feel quite easy about poor old No. 4 tumbling about their ears — The builder or contractor of the pulled

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down house thinks that the party wall will have to be rebuilt, which will come half on the tenants of No 4 — who is now a Miss Jeune, poor soul — Horace & Ida went to the Quartette party on Tuesday — & H. fell into talk w. Fawcett (the concert was at Mrs Anderson's house) He spoke warmly about you & how infinitely you were the right person above Routh for the Prof.

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They went home yesterday & had Dubba to tea — I don't believe he will be dismal tho' Frank does not return home till tomorrow, staying up for a Bach concert — I will give Fr yr last letter & message about Reg. D. [Reginald Darwin] — as you say a hideous portrait is a misfortune. Bessy writes comf. from Avignon where Mrs Synnot knocked up so they stayed a day longer & B. & Dickson walked about well amused— & wd go on

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Wed — to Grasse — A letter is on the way from poor Leo — finding the fiasco more dismal & flat than he expected — Bee however writes that they had recovered their spirits after a v. hearty breakfast — Four bright days till the fatal one —

yours my dear George — How I hope you are getting a bit better in all respects — I like a card tol. often even if there is 0 in it.