TALBOT5622

Good Friday –

My dear Henry

I send you the answer to my enquiries after Lady Mary ¹ – only received today. –

Horatia ² is going to Bowood ³ on Monday – if Lady Lansdowne ⁴ comes down, as she hopes to do, tomorrow – but it all hangs upon L^d L’s ⁵ being well enough to set out for Paris – and he had still some gout when Lady L. wrote yesterday.

Horatia desires me to tell you that she thinks it impossible M^r Arbor can intend to charge £10 – for estimating the furniture merely – she suggest that that sum was to have included Plate<,> Books – everything in short – and as all those are locked up & cannot be submitted to his inspection, she hopes you will not really pay him the £10 – She would have written this to you herself if I had not proposed to give the message as she had nothing else to say of importance today. – She talks of driving over to Sloperton ⁶ tomorrow – to see M^r & M^rs Moore ⁷– We have heard nothing more from them & fear therefore they are still in suspense – M^r Guthrie ⁸ who paid Horatia a most kind visit yesterday, said M^rs Moore’s state of mind was most distressing – & M^r Moore was her comforter in this affliction – In general she has borne their troubles with more spirit than he has. –

The weather today was beautiful & most enjoyable – much milder – quite like Spring – The Cuckoo was heard several times – & the children took a scramble over the fields with me in search of Cowslips – We found some, as well as Bluebells, Marsh marigolds &c – but it will pleasanter [sic] walking after a few more days of dry weather – the grass being rather spongey – We shall like to hear from you when you have time to tell us what you are doing –

M^lle Dutscheck ⁹ is to leave us next Wednesday – No news yet from Paris –

Your affectionate
Constance.

I have heard from Harriot ¹⁰ – they were at Palermo & going to visit all the most interesting places as quick as possible – fearing I suppose that the great heats were beginning. She had not received my 2 last letters at Naples –