TALBOT4390

Sunday Dec^r 12^th

My dear Henry

I should think Brighton would suit you much better than Weymouth, since you wish to be within reach of London. – It is a little unlucky for one thing that we are not decided – because Miss James’s house in Glocester Row, which would have suited us well, is likely to be taken – There is a family in treaty for it, but she would willingly give us the preferance if we wished to take it. – She would even keep them in suspense a day or two to oblige us – & I think of asking her to wait till Tuesday morning before she accepts them as tenants, that I may have time to hear once more from you – There is another large & very nice house which I saw yesterday next door to the Hotel. – Its chief fault is being a little too large for our numbers – They ask 3½ guineas for Miss James’s – I had a note from Lady Elisabeth ¹last night – she said that she did not now intend to come over to Weymouth because Lord Ilchester ² assured her that we were coming to Melbury ³ certainly & very soon. – I have written to her by this post to lament that I shall be deprived of a comfortable talk with her, & to say how uncertain our plans are become.

Perhaps this note of mine may bring about another change as she is never averse to altering her mind – My Sisters ⁴mention with pleasure a visit which they had had from you – No recent news I find of little Noel. ⁵–

Matilda ⁶ has an unbecoming bruise on her forehead from a fall yesterday – luckily she escaped with a whole skin, so her beauty is only impaired for the moment. – She is very well – & the others also – Ela ⁷ has just shaken off her bilious attack which the damp weather occasioned about a week ago – Rosamond ⁸ was constrained to dance by herself on Friday, but Ela will be quite able to join next time. –

Your aff^te
Constance