TALBOT3372

Markeaton ¹
Saturday night –
Sept. 24 –

My dear Henry

I am very glad that our proffered visit to Penrice ² has been so graciously accepted & Ela ³ included without difficulty – but when is it likely to take place? not quite so soon as you first thought of, I suppose (Oh what an unfortunate blot from my careless pen!) as you have not yet made your appearance here. You proposed coming to Markeaton for about a fortnight I think, & indeed I hope you still intend giving us, (or rather them) as much of your company as that, for truly it would not be worth while to come so long a distance for less a smaller space of time. – I begin to be a little afraid of your cheating us altogether – that would be too shocking, especially as the room next to mine has been furnished on purpose for your reception. – A little change too might benefit you as much as it has your daughter; & many people here are dying to see you besides those of my own family, to whom your visit is expressly dedicated. – I wrote to Horatia ⁴ a few days ago, but I am a little fearful lest my letter should not have reached Leamington before her departure; – for my conscience accuses me of an unpardonable delay. – How pleasant & mild the air has been these two days since the last rain! – Today I have had a long drive with Ela in E company with Harriot ⁵ – As before, no Nurse, so I had hard work; for we paid three long visits & were out three good hours – Ela behaved perfectly, though she was evidently a little fatigued before her return home – I think she had scarcely recovered from the effects of yesterday’s dissipation. – Imagine my Sisters ⁶ having given a dinner at 2 o’clock to a party of 12 – juvenile Ladies & Gentlemen of all ages from the age of 14 or 15 – to 1 & ½ – Six were little cousins of ours, M^r Newton’s ⁷ children – four were the Clergyman’s offspring – & the other two were – Noel ⁸ & Ela – All behaved extremely well, & during dinner were a little shy & lost their appetite – From 3 o’clock to ½ past 5, they played together in the house, as the weather was too damp for walking. – & a more considerable uproar & confusion without anything like a dispute, you can scarcely imagine. – We the kind spectators & promoters of their mirth were you will believe, tolerably well tired, & not a little rejoiced when the carriages arrived to convey them home – but our exertions were wholly repaid by the certainty of having made them all quite happy. –

Did Sir David Brewster ⁹ pay you his promised visit? – & what you has made you too busy to glance at poor Sir Henry Slingsby? ¹⁰ – Will you bring the latter with you – I should think Harriot would like to see him – By the way I have been thinking over some very pretty names & have almost settled in the depths of my own mind which it shall be – but I will not tell you till you come. – First we must settle whether there should be a co-heiress – or anything else – I have been laying in a stock of clothing &c for the approaching winter, which they wise folks say will be a severe one – It is really chilly enough already to remind us that it must come, & the leaves are falling more pertinaciously than they were ever known to do in the month of September. –

Dearest, I do not seem to have much to tell you of interest, for though our time is fully employed & as we think most usefully, our occupations are not sufficiently remarkable to be worth describing. –

Ela sends you a kiss – & bids me say how well she is amused at Markeaton – Indeed when her cousin is present she is so completely taken up with him – that I almost doubt whether she would be able to turn her attention towards any other object – even were ‘Papa’ himself to make his appearance –

Ever your affectionate
Constance –

I am writing en bonnet de nuit ¹¹ so good night –

I almost expect to hear from you tomorrow or Monday –

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham