TALBOT3138

Saturday September 26. –

My dear Henry

You will be glad to hear that Ela ¹ is quite herself again in spirits & only a very little paler in looks than usual – indeed her indisposition was scarcely worth mentioning at all & I hope therefore it did not make you uneasy. – I can fancy that you must want to see her again uncommonly; & perhaps too sometimes you may wish for her Mamma – but the latter personage is not quite such a rarity & would most heartily forgive you even if she knew that you thought more of her child than of herself. – But why should I imagine such a thing! – you will scold me for talking nonsense – My Sisters ² were pleased at your thinking of inviting them again to Lacock so soon, but just now is not quite a favorable moment for either of them paying us a visit. – They say that they think moreover we must want to be alone together for a short time before Lady Elisabeth ³ arrives, as we have been so long disunited – perhaps there is some truth in this idea – what think you? – As we could have not have a place to spare in our carriage it would be as easy at any future time as now for one of them to come. They would ere long be [illegible deletion] changing their quarters for the Winter, & where they will go I cannot think – they are at present in a state of hopeless uncertainty. – This return of rain is very unpleasant & after the beauty of yesterday rather astonishing – I hope you returned to Lacock yesterday evening as you expected whilst it remained fine. perhaps [sic] you did so & perhaps you were tempted by the clearness of the night to look out for the comet. – We took advantage of yesterday for sailing to the Needles ⁴ & had a charming view of them & of Alum Bay – the bright colours of the sand shone forth most brilliantly in the rays of the sun, & the adjacent chalk quite put out our eyes by its dazzling whiteness. The day before we accomplished our visit to Chilworth with only one shower – What a lovely place it is! & how beautiful is the whole of the drive there from Southampton! quite worth going to see. – M^r Quin ⁵ was gone out driving with Miss Talbot, ⁶ but we found the rest of the party at home & were well received by them – M^rs Quin was particularly affectionate – I could fancy her grown several years older since we saw her last at Calais. – Did you get my last letter ⁷ written on Thursday in which I proposed to you that my visit here should end on Monday week the 5^th? My Mother ⁸ has just suggested to me that it may not have reached you as you have been travelling from place to place. – In it I [illegible] too that Ela had not been quite well, which was my reason for mentioning her improved health in the first instance. All here are most anxious that you should spend a day or two with them before you carry me off – indeed [it] would please them very much if you would do so without displeasing yourself. – When you next write you will perhaps tell me what I am to expect; & whether if you do not come till Monday morning you would think of sleeping at Southampton the same night. – You will please to recollect that now the evenings are grown cold Ela must not travel late & I think we should make our arrangements much more comfortably were you to come a day or two sooner & stay. – If it is not convenient for you to fetch me at the time I name I can of course remain here any number of days beyond the 5^th but I shall be quite ready & willing to depart then. – I am charmed to hear that you have met with some pretty Autumnal flowers – they are always so valuable – I am quite sorry I have not been able to visit M^r Page’s garden yet, but⁹ whenever we do go over to Southampton there is so mu[ch] to be done & so little time to do it in. – Fitzsimmons ¹⁰ has sent me the last supply of peaches from Lacock & enquired whether he should send grapes. – but as I shall be home so soon I do not wish for any to be sent. –

Adieu dear Henry – Your dearly affectionate
Constance. –

We have been reading aloud the lives of the Scottish Worthies ¹¹ & like them much –

Best love from all –

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham