136 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, x 



Emma Darwin to Charles Darwin. 



[DOWN] Monday 2lst [April, 1851]. 



Your two letters just come. ... I am confused now and 

 hardly know what my impression is, but I have considerable 

 hopes. . . . Except at post-time my sufferings are nothing 

 to yours. 



Charles Darwin to Emma Danvin. 



[MALVERN] Wednesday, 23rd April [1851]. 

 MY DEAR DEAREST EMMA, 



I pray God Fanny's note may have prepared you. 

 She went to her final sleep most tranquilly, most sweetty 

 at 12 o'clock to-day. Our poor dear dear child has had a 

 very short life, but I trust happy, and God only knows what 

 miseries might have been in store for her. She expired 

 without a sigh. How desolate it makes one to think of her 

 frank, cordial manners. I am so thankful for the daguerreo- 

 type. I cannot remember ever seeing the dear child 

 naughty. God bless her. We must be more and more to 

 each other, my dear wife. Do what you can to bear up, 

 and think how invariably kind and tender you have been 

 to her. I am in bed, not very well. When I shall return 

 I cannot yet say. My own poor dear dear wife. 



C. DARWIN. 

 "% 



Emma Darwin to Charles Darwin. 



MY DEAREST DOWN, Thursday [24 April, 1851], 



I knew too well what receiving no message yester- 

 day means. Till 4 o'clock I sometimes had a thought oi 

 hope, but when I went to bed I felt as if it had all happened 

 long ago. Don't think it made any difference my being 

 BO hopeful the last day. When the blow comes it wipes 

 out all that preceded it, and I don't think it makes it any 

 worse to bear. I hope you have not burnt your letter. I 

 shall like to see it sometime. My feeling of longing after 



