Monday
Dear Henry
I have just received your parcel & am so determined to keep the green secret that I burnt Constance’s 1 letter before putting it out of my hand, so that no human eye could see it, nor no human brain be the wiser for that communication The black lace is perfect, I must send you some more of a different kind. I would much rather you did not have a Key made for the Portfolio case, or only in the last emergency. I do not think there are many of yours in it, & most of those are very large; & would not do for what you want. I believe those small costumes of yours are not in it, but are in a portfolio by themselves in which I put them last winter & which lay for months on the Marble table in the Dining room, & is probably there still, or laying about somewhere. Have it well looked for. En attendant 2 will buy some of the right size & send them to you I had much rather do so than have the key imitated. Tell Constance that Mrs Hartopp’s nurse has got a place in Dorsetshire, so I am very glad She has heard of a treasure at Bath, if She answers as well as Miss Ford’s 3 recommendation of Mrs Wilkes 4 it will do admirably. The Royal Dinner went off extremely well at Lansdowne House 5 The Concert was of course very exclusive, & altogether the Tories & their Newspapers are ready to crêver de defit. 6 Next Friday will be a worse crisis than the last, I doubt whether Ministers will get through it. If there is a majority against them they must resign
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