TALBOT3590

Lacock Abbey
Sunday Sep^r 24

My dear Henry

I was beginning to wish very much for tidings of you all & especially of dear little Bimbo ¹ when M^lle Amélina’s ² kind letter arrived most opportunely to relieve my anxiety – Pray thank her very much for it – and tell her with my love how much pleased I shall be if she really decides on coming to Lacock with the rest of you – She fancies she is no longer of much use or comfort in Sackville St; were that truly the case I should wish for the power of transporting her here to be my companion until your return. – She says Lady Elisabeth ³ does not yet talk of fixing a time for coming – I could wish for Horatia’s ⁴ sake it might be soon – but I suppose there is a great deal of necessary business to detain you in London.

Our little Rose ⁵ has not been quite well the last few days but she is already improved & M^r Kenrick ⁶ says it will be of no consequence – he calls it a kind of Measles to which Infants are subject – which frequently returns several times & does not preserve them from taking the true measles afterwards – She has no fever – no appearance of cold in the head & eyes which generally attends measles – & seems very little incommoded in any way beyond what proceeds from the irritation on the skin & a general disposition to restlessness – It was yesterday morning I sent for M^r Kenrick on observing that her face & neck were covered by a rash – before that she had merely appeared a little fretful & fidgetty – he says she has it very mildly – & my own sense tells me the same for the worst appears already over – & though she slept so lightly all last night that Clifford ⁷ was obliged to sit up with her & hold her in her arms, this morning she allowed herself to be placed on the bed & slept soundly for nearly two hours – and she took her last meal quietly without any fretting at all – So you need not be the least uneasy about her, little dear! – Her eyes look quite bright today as though nothing were the matter with her – M^r Kenrick prescribed a little soothing mixture (of course) & will see her again today – but he has not been yet – He thinks Ela ⁸ will not take it – Rose certainly took it from nobody – for she has not been near any children – She has not only been outside the gates once since we were at Bowood ⁹ – & that once was in the Poney carriage when I went to Spy park ¹⁰ to make enquiries – M^r Starkey ¹¹ is much better & goes out driving – I saw him get out of the carriage when I was a few yards from the door – I called on M^rs Paley ¹² but did not see any of them – so left a message. – I drove over to Sloperton ¹³ last Wednesday but could not see M^rs Moore ¹⁴ comfortably because they had sat down to an early dinner with M^r Bowles ¹⁵ – I was obliged however to rest the poney – & entertain myself in the Drawing-room – M^rs Moore came to me for a few minutes between the courses – I thought her unwell & much fatigued by the exertion of entertaining M^r Bowles. It seems he had invited himself two days before – [missing text]¹⁶ fixed upon what he should like for dinner, & then grumbled at it when it was not before him – He is grown very deaf which fatigues & annoys his friends –

I wrote to you on Tuesday under cover to M^r Strangways ¹⁷

Ever your affect^e
Constance

H. F. Talbot Esq^re
31 Sackville Street
London