TALBOT3370

Bath. ¹

Thursday
March 26^th/74

My dear Henry

I had not myself looked at yesterday’s Newspaper nor had those who remained at home read the obituary in the Times ² – It was your letter therefore which gave us the intelligence of M^rs Menteath’s ³ death, an event which has been for some time expected. Their Son was here a few weeks back, and he told us that he had not been allowed to see his Mother, so apprehensive were they that the slightest emotion might prove fatal – for she suffered from an affection of the heart – M^r Menteath rarely left her, as she liked to be him to read to her – and I fancy his health might have failed, had the illness been long protracted. R^d & Mamie ⁴ are gone to a matinée in Sydney Place, where I think they may learn some particulars – R^d thanks you for those bills which you sent her yesterday – I am rather overtired by my achievements of yesterday – but I dare say I shall not feel the fatigue after another day and I am not going to do it again – for some while! – The weather was certainly very pleasant – and it seems almost the same today – I called at the Post office and asked M^rs Austin ⁵ to send a packet of envelopes to the Abbey. She had the right size, & I took one packet myself. – You will probably see Charles ⁶ again on Saturday – If my specimen of yellow narcissus remains fresh till Sat. I shall send it you by Knott. ⁷ – It has 3 flowers of at the top of each stalk; & I don’t think we have any exactly like it at Lacock. All these varieties are pretty. – We learn by a post Card from Matilda that Jack ⁸ will come to us on Saturday. She is delighted with her success at Edinburgh, where some of her Pictures were received at the Exhibition – One of them, (‘Glen Rosa’) has been bought by the “Association” for 20 Guineas – This will stimulate her to further attempts. –

Your affectionate

Constance