238 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xvi 



There is a sublime degree of mystery about the title. But 

 I write now partly to tell you that we go on Saturday morning 

 to Laura's 1 house. She has most kindly lent us her house, 

 for your mother says, I believe truly, that I require change 

 and rest. 



My mother, on the other hand, wrote to my sister: 

 " The Darwin pedigree raged more than ever last night, as 

 Leonard and George had found out some more things and 

 also Aunt Caroline asked me a multitude of questions, so I 

 curse the old D.'s in my heart." And to me: " F. has 

 received the MS. from Col. Chester carrying the Darwins 

 back 200 years. I don't know how it is, I should care a 

 little if it related to Wedgwoods. F. is intensely interested 

 and the old wills are curious, in some cases leaving a shil- 

 ling." 



My father and mother spent the month of August, 1879, 

 at Coniston. My father enjoyed the journey there with 

 the freshness of a boy the picnic luncheon, and the 

 passing country seen from the train. Even missing the con- 

 nection at Foxfield, and being hours late, did not daunt 

 his cheerfulness. One expedition was made to Grasmere. 

 My father was in a state of enthusiastic delight, jumping 

 up from his seat in the carriage to see better at every 

 striking moment. During this visit they also had the 

 interest and pleasure of making friends with Ruskin. I 

 remember very well his first call on them and his courteous 

 manner; his courtesy even included giving my father the 

 title of " Sir Charles." Ruskin spoke of the new and baleful 

 kind of cloud which had appeared in the heavens, and his 

 distressed look showed that his brain was becoming clouded. 



In the autumn of 1879 my youngest brother Horace 

 became engaged to Ida, only daughter of Lord Farrer, and 

 they were married on January 3rd, 1880. This marriage 

 added a great happiness to my mother's life, as Ida became 

 another daughter to her. 



The following letters relate to a plot to buy a fur-coat 

 for my father, for this was an expenditure he would never 

 have made for himself. 



1 Miss Forster of West-Hackhurst, Abinger. 



