TALBOT5224

Clifton ¹
April 8^th

My dear Henry

I do not wish to be in London while you are in Belgium so pray don’t take a house for me. If you give me leave I would prefer making rather a long séjour here – for the air is certainly doing Ela ² essential good – and she is still so very far from strong and well that I shall think it much the wisest thing we can do for her to be allow ed her the full advantage of what Clifton can do. for her – You know that she has been for a long time so languid & good for nothing that she has been excused all studies – everything that required the slightest degree of thought or attention – It is therefore most important to strengthen her by every means in our power – and tonics have invariably disagreed – therefore there is nothing I can think of so good as our present place – And the longer we can stay – the more lasting we may expect the benefit to be – I do not agree with Lady Elisabeth ³ that it is best to leave Clifton now & return after spending a week in London – because the trouble of moving a whole family is just the same for a short distance although the expense is less – But that I will accept her offer of lodging me for a few nights in Sackville Street ⁴ as soon as I hear that Adela Tossi ⁵ can be spoken with – & I can go up as easily from hence as from Lacock – and the children ⁶ can remain here –

I hope you mean the Servant you engage as a remplaçant for William ⁷ to be out of livery – you should engage him to do a good share of the work such as cleaning plate ( as Nicole ⁸ did at first) – and not to be a mere head as Wright ⁹ is –

Today has been our first of unpleasant weather – though with a bright sun, it has been so bitterly keen in the wind, that we did not venture upon a Fly ¹⁰ Donkey or any other help to our legs –

Your affectionate
Constance.

I am so sorry that you have caught another heavy cold – I don’t think you ever lost the one you had at Lacock –