TALBOT3599

Lacock Abbey
Tuesday Oct 3^d

My dear Henry

Your short letter ¹ of this morning (though so short) was very agreeable because it fixed a positive day for your return – Dearest, it will be a great pleasure to me to have you here again – for, though I cannot exactly say why, this absence has seemed more tedious than any of the former ones – I am very anxious to have you alone for even so short a space before your Mother ² comes – for a little comforting chat – besides I shall want you to inspire me with courage for that sad first meeting, ³ which I confess I dread. Your letter seems to say that you half wish to have for a confirmation of my last good account of Rose ⁴ – She is perfectly well now & goes out of doors as usual. & I think no more about her then if nothing at all had been the matter – You will perceive how true this is when I tell you that on Saturday I actually abandoned her for the whole morning & drove over to Bath in the Poney carriage! – Who I think you will consider this rather a wonderful performance – but I wanted extremely to go there about several things, & Cooper ⁵ assured me it would not hurt the poney – The day was beautiful – & I was really not extremely tired – but somewhat elated at my own prowess – The Poney too was not over-fatigued but carried me beautifully to Sloperton ⁶ yesterday – having rested only one day – I went there to answer a note which M^rs Moore sent me in the morning – Today M^r & M^rs Moore ⁷ are going to dine & sleep at Bowood ⁸ – I saw Lady Lansdowne ⁹ yesterday – She brought Lady Dacy with her & showed her the Cloisters &c – They condemned much of the Ivy & several of the shrubs –

Lady L. was very affectionate & wished I had sent her word about Rose having the Measles – Had she known however she could not have done her any good – I will not forget to send for you at ¼ past five on Friday morning & am glad you intend to vary your route so far as to come by Chippenham ¹⁰ instead of Melksham ¹¹ – You will find some breakfast ready for you – which if you do not eat I shall never again heed your injunctions about not getting up myself to make it for you – This time I will try whether you can keep your promise as well as I can mine –

I have heard from M^lle Amélina ¹² about their coming on Saturday & that she is coming also, which pleases me much – Pray thank her for her letter & say I will attend to all the wishes expressed in it –

Ever dear Henry y^r aff^ate
Constance

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