1860-1869] Freshwater 191 



grand; what a difference between the highest and the lowest 

 number ! By Jove how well his perseverance and energy 

 have been rewarded. This is a very dull place, but we like 

 it much better than we did at first. I wish you were coming 

 sooner. 



My very dear old man, 



Your affectionate Father, 



C. DARWIN. 



Emma Darwin to her aunt Fanny Allen. 



DOWN, Wednesday [August, 1868]. 



. . . Mrs Cameron very good-naturedly took me and Bessy 

 to call on Mrs Tennyson. It was pouring with rain, and 

 the more it rained the slower we walked, so when we got 

 there we left our dripping cloaks in the hall. 



Mr Tennyson brought in a bottle of light wine and gave 

 us each a glass to correct the wet. Mrs Tennyson is an 

 invalid, and very pleasing and gracious. After sitting a 

 reasonable time Tennyson came out with us and shewed us 

 all about, and one likes him, and his absurd talk is a sort of 

 flirtation with Mrs Cameron. The only Tennysonian speech 

 was when he was talking of his new house; I asked where it 

 was, and he answered half in joke " I shan't tell you where," 

 also telling that the Illustrated News wanted to send an 

 artist to take him laying the first stone. Charles spent a 

 very pleasant hour with him the day before. We ended in 

 a transport of affection with Mrs Cameron, Eras, calling 

 over the stairs to her, " You have left eight persons deeply 

 in love with you." I think she was fondest of Horace. The 

 Madonna 1 was often coming over, " Mrs Cameron's love 

 and would Horace come over ?" She wanted him to pack 

 photos, etc. . . . 



This autumn was one of unusual sociability. There were 

 pleasant parties of friends and relations staying in the 

 house; and we also had much intercourse with Charles 



1 Mrs Cameron's pretty maid, who often sat for her, 



