242 [CHAP, xvii 



CHAPTER XVII 



18801882 



Elizabeth Wedgwood's death A month at Patterdale Erasmus 

 Darwin's death The new tennis-court A visit to Cambridge 

 The birth of Erasmus, eldest child of Horace My father's 

 serious state of health His death on April 19th, 1882. 



OUR aunt Elizabeth had a serious illness in the autumn of 

 1879. From this she never entirely recovered, and died 

 on November 7th, 1880, at the age of 87. Her little bent 

 figure had been a familiar sight to us all as she came into the 

 drawing-room, leaning on her stick and followed by her dog 

 Tony. Her first question was always, ' ; Where is Emma ? ): 

 My mother would then put by whatever she was doing in 

 order to go to her. This was sometimes difficult, but she 

 never let any sense of hurry appear and was always ready 

 to give her a warm and equable welcome. She shared in all 

 her interests, and made constant attempts to protect her 

 from the beggars and imposters who beset her to the end of 

 her life. 



My mother thus describes going to Elizabeth's house 

 after her death: 



Emma Darwin to her daughter Henrietta Litchfield. 



[Nov. 20, 1880.] 



I went down yesterday and settled some books. The 

 most pathetic thing I saw was the old parasol in its own 

 place; but it did not tempt me to take it away it would 

 be little to me anywhere else and the maids might care for 

 it. Tony is rather pathetic too, never barking, and wanting 

 notice so much. But when I think what her life might 

 have been this whiter, even with something like a recovery, 



