TALBOT4963

Wednesday March 13^th

My dear Henry

I heard from Marian ¹ yesterday that you had been to see her – and after hearing her report spoke less decidedly about the Swiss Lady ² than we all did – But probably since my last letters to you & to her you have had some further communication – & saved her all unnecessary trouble. – I dare say we shall have no difficulty after we arrive at Brussels, in engaging a nice person on much more reasonable terms – nor will there be any immediate hurry about it – There will be so many new objects to make the children ³ happy at first, that we shall have no difficulty in passing the time agreeably –

I dare say Marian told you of her proposed visit to us – which makes me very happy for I scarcely thought she would have ventured at this time of the year, when the weather is so changeable & often cold – What a storm there was yesterday & the day before! – very unfavorable for Lady Elis^{ths 4} journey. – I suppose they must have travelled much slower – I quite expected we should have lost some trees – but I don’t hear of any – An old acacia close to the Sphinx which was shaken by a storm last year rocked so much yesterday that Humphries ⁵ expected it to fall & even asked my leave to pull it with ropes to guide its descent & prevent its injuring the Mermaid. – But I could not sanction so strong a measure – particularly as I thought the chances were in favour of its surviving the storm, – which has proved to be the case. – I visited M^rs Moore ⁶ yesterday & was glad to find M^r M ⁷ so far recovered as to make it likely that he will go up to Sackville St ⁸ on Friday & I engaged to let Sarah ⁹ know this – for which purpose I have written the enclosed note. – She is to prepare for him on Friday – but not to be surprised if he does not arrive – & not to expect him late. –

Rosamond is very anxious for you to be at home on her Birthday – (Saturday –) but I have told her it is scarcely likely that you will have finished your business by that time –

Your affectionate
Constance –

I propose to give Marian your bed-room – if (as usual) you like the Confessional equally well – for yourself. – But if you dislike moving let me hear please before she comes down, which she talks of doing Friday or Saturday. – I think Horatia ¹⁰ begged me to remind you of bringing down the Revue des deux mondes. ¹¹