TALBOT5682

Lacock Abbey
Monday June 22^d

My dear Henry

The letter you wrote from Swindon was brought to me at ½ past nine the same evening – I hope the correspondence so happily begun will continue during your tour. – particularly I want to know what are your first impressions of Ambleside under the present circumstances. I sent off yesterday (according to your directions) the 20 sheets of Iodized paper – but was greatly puzzled as to whether they should go as a parcel or letter. – We held a consultation with Wright, ¹ and after much fear & hesitation decided for the post, as being the surest – Wright said more over he did not think a parcel could de directed received at a Post office, which was your address – I now regret that I did not make it a stiff letter by means of brown paper or card-board, as I fear the letter carriers may double it for their own convenience – and that the pictures made thereon will be injured thereby – A rolled letter has arrived from Reading ² which I opened expecting to find the portraits of L^d Mt E ³ &c &c but it consists wholly of the Royal children ⁴ – The letter which was enclosed, I forward to you with another – making one parcel as you suggested – None of us caught cold by dining in South Sherrington’s room on Saturday. – It seems likely that the heat will drive us there again as the freshness of Yesterday (which was a perfect relief) has left us – and today is exactly as hot as it was all last week – Unfortunately Horatia ⁵ thought it necessary to go again today to L^d M^t E. – but she means to come back again this evening – and I hope it is the last time & that he will go up to Sackville St ⁶ on Wednesday.

We have haymaking in our own field today – when that is finished, & the Roses faded, there will be little to regret in this place, if you meet with a house on the Lakes to suit us – I have been reckoning the number of rooms we should require – I think 5 or 6 best bedrooms containing 6 or 8 best beds according to their size and 5 Servants rooms. –

Your affectionate
Constance