TALBOT2799

Lacock Abbey
Feb 9^th 1834
Sunday

My dear Henry

The moment after you left me on Friday I put on my bonnet & walked round & round the garden at least a dozen times, trying to shake off my tristesse. ¹ – Though I felt very sad then, & indeed during all the rest of the day, still I never enjoyed a walk at Lacock quite so much. – The sun was so warm, the air so fresh, & the birds were singing so sweetly – I never saw everything look so nice, & I quite pitied you, being obliged to leave the country on such a day. – but I suppose it was not quite wasted upon you, though you were shut up in a Coach. – How disagreeable to be received by a fog! today it has reached us accompanied by a slight frost. – Lady Elisabeth ² & I are just come from Bowood ³ where we went to church. I confess I like M^r ––, (I forget his name already) much better than M^r Matthews, ⁴ and the little chapel is so quiet & nice. – Lady Louisa ⁵ shewed me various parts of the house which I had not seen before. –

Will you frank the enclosed for me to Harriot, ⁶ at Moreton? ⁷ – it is to enquire about a Maid who is leaving M^rs Henry Frampton. ⁸ – M^rs Gwynne ⁹ has some idea that Lydia Prior may have engaged herself, but if it should prove otherwise, I think I shall decide in favor of her.

I was quite sorry you were not at the House to hear the curious discussion on Wednesday, it must have been amusing: but you will be in time for the sequel on Monday. – pray tell us all about it. – Adieu dear Henry, I have not time for more today. – think of me sometimes & believe me

Y^r affec^te
Constance

It was so good of you to write to me from [illegible deletion] Newbury – your commission respecting old Marehout shall be remembered, but yesterday it rained too much for me to stir out of the house. –

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re M.P.
31 Sackville Street
London