1842] Charles's Delight in the Country 69 



expected to experience again. There certainly is great 

 pleasure in the country even in winter. This walk was 

 rather too much for me, and I was dull till whist, which 

 I enjoyed beyond measure. We sat up talking till J past 

 10. ... 



I think I have picked up some notions by our education- 

 fights; Caroline is enthusiastic about M. Guizot, and says she 

 agrees in all his directions. ... I have just re-read yester- 

 day's letter: your account of your economy in fires and 

 puddings amused us much. A nice item the new taxes 

 will be I calculate about 30 per annum ; I have half read 

 Sir R. Peel's great speech, it strikes me as very good, and 

 it is very interesting. I am sure I have sent you a dull 



enough letter to-day, so good-bye, my pattern wife. 



C. D. 



The income-tax, now imposed for the first time since the 

 great war, was Id. in the pound. 30 at this rate would 

 be the tax on an income of 1,030. 



Emma Darwin to her aunt Madame Sismondi. 



12, UPPER GOWER STREET [April 2, 1842]. 



MY DEAREST AUNT JESSIE, 



I should not have left your charming long letter so 

 long unanswered if I had been brisker and not so stupid. 

 I sympathize with all your painful feelings at breaking up 

 all your establishment, and not the least painful one to me 

 would be leaving your little cat. But I trust that your 

 chief comfort will be to find that a complete change will be 

 of the greatest service to M. Sis. . . . My little Annie has 

 taken to walking and talking for the last fortnight. She 

 is 13 months old and very healthy, fat and round, but no 

 beauty. Willy is very much impressed with his own 

 generosity and goodness to her. . . . 



We don't mean to move this summer, which you will 

 think a good thing my inclination for the country does 

 not diminish though. Charles is very busy finishing his 



