134 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, x 



getting our former dear Annie. There is nothing in common 

 between the two. Fanny Hensleigh is here, most kind of 

 course: she does not think badly of her looks. How truly 

 kind of her corning. Poor Annie has just said " Papa " quite 

 distinctly. Etty is gone (Etty never dreamed of danger to 

 Annie) with Hannah to London by the Cheltenham coach. 

 I cannot express how it felt to have hopes last night at 

 11* 30' when Dr Gully came, saw her asleep, and said " she 

 is turning the corner." I then dared picture to myself my 

 own former Annie with her dear affectionate radiant face. 

 Let us hope and be patient over this dreadful illness. . . . 



Saturday, 2 o'clock. 



We expect Dr Gully every minute, but he is fearfully 

 overworked with 88 patients. Annie has kept just in the 

 same tranquil, too tranquil state : she takes gruel every hour. 

 She begins to drink a little more this afternoon, and I think 

 that is good. 3 o'clock. The Dr has been, he says she 

 makes no progress, but no bad symptoms have appeared: 

 but I am disappointed. 



4 o'clock. She has taken two spoonfuls of tea, and no 

 sickness, thank God. I find Fanny an infinite comfort. 



5 o'clock. Just the same. I will write before late post 



if Dr G. comes. 



My dearest, 



C. D. 



Emma Darwin to Charles Darwin. 



[DOWN], Saturday, IQth April [1851] 



. . . The [telegraphic] message 1 is just arrived. What 

 happiness ! How I do thank God ! but I will not be too 

 hopeful. I was in the garden looking at my poor darling's 

 little garden to find a flower of hers when Griffiths drove up. 



1 The telegram had been sent by messenger from London. 



