182 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xm 



Emma Darwin to her aunt Fanny Allen. 



Nov. 22 [1864]. 



I was so glad to receive your dear, affectionate letter, 

 saying you would come and see us. I was thinking how 

 unsatisfactory it would be only to see you for a call or two 

 in London, as I do not feel easy to leave Ch. for a night, 

 he is so subject to distressing fainting feelings, and one never 

 knows when an attack may come on. It will be very nice 

 for him to see you too. . . . 



Emma Darwin to her daughter Henrietta. 



DOWN, Thursday [March, 1865]. 

 MY DEAR, BODY, 



We can do very well [without you] till Saturday; 

 indeed, as far as I can see, we must. Papa is pretty well 

 and Horace too, and very happy over the alarum which 

 Papa has handsomely devoted. Anne is absorbed in shirts. 

 I have just been down to Spengle 1 to talk about poor 

 people. Found them at breakfast at 10.15. 



I am glad you are enjoying yourself so much, my dear. 

 I am glad you see a bit more of aunt Fanny Allen too. 

 I called yesterday on the Stephens. Mr S. thought it only 

 proper respect that the young Lubbocks should not beat 

 their father 2 at billiards, and Mrs S. said her brothers would 

 not like to beat their father: " No, indeed, they had better 

 do no such thing." 



In 1865 my father tried Dr Chapman's "ice-cure " with 

 however no permanent good effect. Fanny Allen wrote 



1 The family nickname for the village doctor, who had been 

 devoted to Leonard in his long illness. He was always in difficulties, 

 being too indulgent with his poorer patients. My father used to lend 

 him money, and when the bill came in my father used to pay half 

 and keep half against the debt, which he called " sharing the booty." 

 Mr Engleheart lost his life in Africa, crossing a swollen river at night 

 to attend a patient. 



2 Sir John Lubbock, the father of the first Lord Avebury. 



