From H. E. Litchfield to Elizabeth Darwin [early 1880s]

Swan Hotel | Wells | Somerset

Sunday

Dear Bessy.

We did make our start yesterday & R. seems all right today & has been very happy poking about with his guide books. Now he is in at afternoon service, of which I took fright as I've been rather back achy since the Ho of C. on Thursday— So I sat in the Nave & enquired after the Anthem.

We are in a very nice Hotel close to the Cathedral. It has been public spirited enough to buy up a couple of Houses & pull them down & so make a little garden in front & private way into the close.

Its delightfully warm & soft & tho' we've had one sharp shower I dont think the weather is in a bad temper. It was so hot when we arrived here yesterday at 10.30pm, we could do nothing but drink iced appolinaris water. After tea we shall go a little drive as I don't feel inclined for much walking, & there must be some pretty drives. This morning we poked about the outside of the cathedral which is extremely beautiful & sat in the Nave for part of the service. It feels a very little Cathedral after Winchester, but there is a delightful quantity of most beautiful & fanciful carving. I've hardly seen the inside however yet.

I wonder what you've been doing with your day. I hope Father has been in to hear a little music in Kings & that Mother has stayed in the antechapel. I envy you yr time at Cambridge— I thk the Horaces will enjoy their first visit of the parents so much.

Monday— Still at Wells but we don't exactly know where we are going tomorrow.

A very sweet soft day most Autumny in feel. We had a delightful couple of hours in the Cat. & the choir is most lovely with a little forest of pillars between it & the lady chapel & most exquisite glass. Then we saw over the Bishops Gardens which have the ruins of an old banquetting hall in them & such beautiful views of the Cathedral over its old walls & moat. Our guide was a little girl of seven & I thk no guide ought to be older.

We are going to drive to Glastonbury this p.m. as it is sunny which ruins do so cry out for. So Goodbye dear B. | yours H.E.L.

Please cite as “FL-1093,” in Ɛpsilon: The Darwin Family Letters Collection accessed on 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/darwin-family-letters/letters/FL-1093