TALBOT3504

My dear Henry

I have begged a frank from L^d Ilchester ¹ in order to enclose a letter from Harriot ² which came for you yesterday – as I felt too much affection for my Sister-in-law to allow of her epistles being subjected to unmerited neglect – Thanks for your 2 letters ³ & especially for the last which I know you sent so punctually on purpose to relieve my anxieties – I congratulate you most sincerely on this delightful change of weather – it has come most appropriately for your trip to the dear old Abbey & will make it look cheerful even without the presence of its inmates – I am rather sorry too, that they should have left you alone so very soon, & I dare say you got a little scolding for having put off you journey so long – However perhaps it will bring you back again so much the sooner – which I shall be very glad of – more especially as I begin to feel in a hurry to have our little Baby ⁴ christened now that the weather has become mild – & perhaps if we wait too long it may change again & become cold – Yesterday M^rs Wilkes ⁵ & I went out walking & actually got as far as Somerset St ⁶ – I did not feel strong of course, but we walked slowly & I enjoyed the air extremely – M^rs Wilkes paid a visit to her Mother next door, while I visited Aunt Matilda ⁷ – She was just coming down to her Drawing-room when I arrived – & I was very glad to see that she could make the exertion, – for I only remember to have seen her there once before – I do think she [illegible deletion] was even more animated than usual – indeed she talked so very fast that I felt I could scarcely get in a word – M^rs Wilkes had fixed her departure for this evening instead of yesterday as I expected, fancying that she came to me on a Thursday whereas it was really Wednesday – so I have had her a day longer than I had any right to expect – And today Ela ⁸ seems so much as usual & looks so well that I considered it was quite unnecessary to keep M^rs Wilkes any longer – though I would certainly have done so without scruple had it been otherwise – And I must say it was very kind & thoughtful of you to propose it – We have had some showers here today, with intervals of beautiful bright sunshine – which made me long to go out again, but of course it was too damp for me after the rain – I hope the clouds will not come over just at the moment of the Eclipse, for it would be quite disappointing to miss it altogether – I shall not fail to keep a good look out however, if there should be any bright moments – I think you give a tolerable account of the Flowers considering the Season – the yellow Erythromium I do not know, but I should think it must be very pretty –

I do not wonder that M^r Feilding ⁹ should feel anxious to get to London after his severe attack – it is certainly the driest place where he can be [illegible deletion] & he will have the additional benefit of good advise – I shall send soon to Sackville St ¹⁰ to ascertain whether he was able to perform the journey –

Little Babe is quite well –

Your affectionate
Constance

Thursday April 20 –