1840-1842] Charles in Ill-Health. 51 



pation of her own, dining and going to parties, but she has 

 a different sort of bustle at Maer. 



I was delighted to hear by your letter that your coming 

 to England was positively fixed, and I hope to catch you 

 here and at Maer. Charles and I had been planning to 

 get you to come straight to us when you came to town, 

 and I cannot tell you what a pleasure it would be to receive 

 you both in my own house and show you my own dear 

 husband and child, but I have been telling him this morning 

 that while his health continues in such a very uncomfortable 

 state, it would neither do for him nor you. He has cer- 

 tainly been worse for the last six weeks, and has been 

 pretty constantly in a state of languor that is very dis- 

 tressing, and his being obliged to be idle is very painful to 

 him. He is consulting Dr Holland, but without much 

 good effect. 



Feb. 10. Here is a gap in my letter, but I can find 

 time for nothing, as nursing and looking after the baby 

 fills up any number of hours. Charles has been better 

 again these three days, and I hope he has made a turn and 

 will continue mending, and that I shall have the happiness 

 of having you and my dear M. Sismondi with us. I should 

 see so much more of you in the mornings and at odd times, 

 and perhaps he would be going out more than you would 

 like, and then I should catch you. I have not forgotten 

 my happy stay at Paris, and the precious bits of talk I had 

 with you. It was a bright, happy time. 



It is a pleasure in writing to you that one's letter is 

 only seen by two, and one may say whatever comes upper- 

 most, and so I will be as egotistical as ever I please. It is 

 a great happiness to me when Charles is most unwell that 

 he continues just as sociable as ever, and is not like the 

 rest of the Darwins, who will not say how they really are; 

 but he always tells me how he feels and never wants to be 

 alone, but continues just as warmly affectionate as ever, 

 so that I feel I am a comfort to him. And to you I may 

 say that he is the most affectionate person possible, as 

 much so as your own Sis, and I am sure I could say no 



