ig2 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xm 



Norton, of Cambridge, Mass., and his family, who were stay- 

 ing for some time at Keston Rectory, a neighbouring parish 

 to Down. A warm friendship sprang up between the two 

 families, and this intimacy led to my brother William's 

 marriage many years later to Mrs Norton's sister, Sara 

 Sedgwick. 



About this time we ceased to call our father and mother 

 " Papa and Mamma." " F from now onwards in my 

 mother's letters means " your father," although she some- 

 times still speaks of him as " Papa." My father, who was 

 very conservative (although he was a Liberal in politics) 

 said when we spoke about the change, " I would as soon be 

 called Dog." 



Emma Darwin to her daughter Henrietta. 



DOWN, Friday [probably Dec., 1868]. 



The 1 onny Reading did very well last night. We had 

 three dreadful comic songs, not vulgar, but duller than 

 anything ever was heard. Frank and I played twice. 

 Our two black sheep, whom I hate the sight of, little Rob. 

 and Mrs S. were there, and the two yeUow sheep (Miss X.'s) 

 also. . . . We have been talking about Wales to Papa, and 

 a house that may be to be had. I think poor F. seems 

 to feel as if the fates would have it so, and I should the 

 less scruple about it as I am sure he would enjoy it so 

 much not that he has agreed, but we have looked at 

 the map, &c. Leo and Horace are very crazy on the 

 scheme. Goodbye, my dear, I must go out in a gleam 

 of sunshine. 



Fanny Allen to her great-niece Henrietta Darwin. 



Dec. ISth [1868]. 



Your letter, my dear Henrietta, gave me great pleasure 



to-day. I was sure you would not forget me and yet the 



' booking " of the time gives a certainty to it, that is very 



pleasant. As many days as you can lawfully spare the 



