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Ap. 9. 81

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

Saturday

My dear George

Here is Sara's account which is comf ─ especially that Wm may do some work in moderation & the weather is moderating, so I hope Malvern may succeed ─

I think it wd be well for you & Leo ─ to be a little

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cautious about Q. A [Queen Anne Street, home of Erasmus Darwin] for next week (but you are going N. I think).

Bessy Pearce [Erasmus's servant] thought he had rather too many visitors this week one on end of the other; but don't say this to H. & Ida as it wd vex them.

We had such a shoal of callers on Thursday as

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nearly killed me ─

Mrs. Mul. [Mulholland] & Miss Lubbock Mrs Lyell & Rosamond & Mr Hoole for a long talk ─ Mrs L. is sending her book to the press & deprecated C's opinion that she was not cutting it short enough. Mrs M'Lennan wrote to ask about you ─ He had been worse owing to the weather; but was mending a little again. B. has bee 4 days without seeing M. [Mary Anne Westwood 'Nanna'] 7 is quite happy ─

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He is going out to tea to the Tomkins this evg. We have invented a reading game w. comfits which proved quite delightful today & made him put all his wits to work. I suppose the charm will not work very long. (Bessy told Mrs M. that you had been a short time at home) ─

yours my dear George

E. D