TALBOT5461

Lacock Abbey
Wednesday –

My dear Henry

I have received the pictures of both kinds & will touch up the Ariadne & send them back to you tomorrow. Lady Elisabeth ¹ has shewn the Pencil of Nature ² & a few detached things to M^r Bridges ³ & Caroline ⁴ shewed him her collection of Mount Edgcumbe ⁵ views – He admired & conversed about them & seems anxious for instructions – but has evidently little notion of setting about it & no idea whatever of the difficulties – We all like M^r B. very much – he has a great deal to say & has travelled in a great many different parts of the world. He lived seven years in the backwoods of Canada & still holds a hut there of his own building which he lets to a Lady, (a Sister of Miss Strickland) on payment by her of one Wolf’s skin per annum. His friend Mr Bowerbanks^<6> has not quite made up his mind to accept the Curacy of Lacock which the Bishop offers him – He is alarmed at the notion of succeeding a Puseyite – I wish he could have dined with us yesterday as well as M^r Bridges – but he was gone to Cirencester. – Caroline leaves us tomorrow positively – You had a great loss yesterday – in missing our Charades performed by the five children ⁶ – they acted very well considering that our three were novices. – Valletort ⁷ was excellent – & the dresses extremely well imagined & tastefully disposed by Caroline & Horatia. ⁸ Ela looked beautiful both as Marie Stuart & the Spanish Signora – And they were all as happy as possible – We have made the most of the meeting between the Cousins by allowing several half holidays I will shew C. the geography – Pray let the Arithmetic wait your leisure. – so that you do remember it, there is no hurry. –

Your affectionate
Constance.