TALBOT4519

Lacock Abbey
Monday
May 23^d – 1842.

My dear Henry

I will not run the risk of letting you pass Heidelberg without finding a letter from me: – as you will want to know that our darling ¹ is going on as well as when you left home. – It is my greatest pleasure now to look at him & hold him in my arms – for he thrives so nicely – nothing can be more satisfactory – and I have not one anxious thought left on his account. – Really his cheeks are twice as big as they were a fortnight ago – M^r Kenrick ² has almost taken his leave of the house – & indeed it was time; after having been a daily visitor (almost) for nearly four months. – He has not been to see us since Thursday & intends for the future, only, to look in occasionally to see us doing well. – I expect Lady Elisabeth ³ back on Wednesday – & hope to find her improved in strength by her week in London – but I am not quite satisfied with her for not once mentioning her health since she left me. – How I long to hear of your progress since you left Dover! – The weather has been very cold & disagreeable for you – at least here it has been so – though today there is certainly a great improvement. – It is like April – mild & bright between the showers – excellent weather for gardening, as the children have been doing with me this morning. – I had a good character of M^rs Neesham ⁴ from M^r Tufnell’s mother; & have therefore written to engage her & desired her to come down to Lacock as soon as she can get ready. – After she is come we shall be quite settled I hope.

I should like to be with you at this moment, travelling post through Germany and with the immediate prospect of meeting Horatia & Caroline! ⁵– What a pleasure you will have in getting to Munich!

Your affectionate
Constance. –

Do turn in your mind the possibility of our going abroad en famille towards the Autumn. – You will find such a plan easy to make during some of your travelling moments. –

Germany
Monsieur Fox Talbot
Poste restante
Heidelberg
München ⁶
Allemagne