1885-1888] Sudden Death a Blessing 277 



returned ; and I think it may be said that there was never 

 from beginning to end one instant's jar in their many years 

 of close intercourse. 



On April 19th, 1887, the anniversary of my father's 

 death, she wrote: " I do not find that the day of the month 

 makes the anniversary with me but the look out of doors, 

 the flowers, and the sort of weather." 



Emma Darwin to Margaret Shaen after the sudden 



death of her father. 



EASTBOURNE, Monday [Ap. 4, 1887]. 



... In my great loss I felt that the sudden end was a 

 blessing; I could look back on the last few days which 

 had gleams of cheerfulness we could neither of us have 

 felt if he had been aware entirely of his state. I am so 

 glad that your mother can look back on those three days 

 when she was able to see more of your father than usual. 

 You are spared even the memory of the last few hours of 

 suffering which dwell upon the mind in an unreasonable 

 degree because they are the last, and which I would do 

 much to forget. . . . 



Emma Darwin to her son Horace. 



THE GROVE, Sat., Ap. 16th [1887]. 



I am sorry you did not see the pictures at Bologna. 

 I liked them particularly, but then I was 18, and actually 

 admired Guercino also a little St Agnes by Domenichino 

 and the marriage of St Catharine by Coreggio. We have 

 moved into the dining-room [as drawing-room] and it is so 

 pretty and bright I quite grudge the years it has been wasted. 



Emma Darwin to her son Leonard. 



CAMBRIDGE, Monday [1887 !] 



It is a disadvantage to live on such an ugly road as this. 

 I went out a little way yesterday, but the muddy abomin- 

 able road and the ugly surroundings made me resolve that 



