242                                                                     [chap, xvii
 

CHAPTER XVII

1880—1882

Elizabeth Wedgwood's death—A month at Patterdale—Erasmus
Darwin's death—^The new tennis-coiirt—A visit to Cambridge—
The birth of Erasmus, eldest child of Horace—Mj father's
serious state of health—His death on AprU 19th, 1882.

OuE aunt Elizabeth had a serious Ulness in the autumn of
1879. From this she never entirely recovered, and died
on November 7th, 1880, at the age of 87. Her httle bent
figure had been a f amUiar sight to us aU as she came into the
drawing-room, leaning on her stick andfoUowed 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 ia aU
her interests, and made constant attempts to protect her
from the beggars and impostors 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 hfe might
have been this winter, even with something hke a recovery,