[CHAP, xix 



CHAPTER XIX 



18351837 



Home life at Maer Mrs Marsh as novelist Emma Wedgwood 

 visits Cresselly Mrs John Wedgwood's sudden death Emma 

 Wedgwood at musical festivals Charles Darwin returns home 

 Emma at Edinburgh C. D. on marriage. 



THE home life at Maer had by DOW become much changed. 

 Emma had lost through the death of Fanny the com- 

 panionship of a sister of her own age, and the failure of 

 their mother's health made it necessary that either Elizabeth 

 or Emma should always be at home. It is as nurse and care- 

 taker that she now appears, and also as aunt to the next 

 generation, which numbered four. 



Elizabeth Wedgwood to her mother. 



CLAPHAM, Tuesday, 3 March [1835]. 



. . . Saturday we dined at [the Marshes]. . . . Anne 

 was very pleasant, and when we got round the fire after 

 dinner she talked a great deal with an openness that was 

 very engaging about her book [Two Old Men's Tales] and 

 her feelings. I was in hopes that her being known as the 

 author would have saved her from hearing disagreeable 

 things; but she told us of some things that had been said 

 that she would have given a thousand pounds rather than 

 they should have been said. I cannot think who could tell 

 her. She was very much amused when she dined at Lady 

 Milman's to find Mr Murray paying court to her as if she 

 was somebody. I think the vexation of being known has 

 more than counterbalanced the pleasure of her success, but the 

 pleasure of the writing itself seems to be very great. (I can 



