TALBOT5957

Lacock Abbey
Wednesday June 2^d

My dear Henry

I thought Horatia ¹ could not help being knocked up by such severe duty at the Bazaar – and hot weather of itself is trying. – She herself confirms your account of her being better in a letter to M^lle A ² this morning. – Thank you for the Modes ³ – I had asked Wright ⁴ to call at Mad^me Frederick’s ⁵ in Albemarle St to desire them to write to Paris about it. – & I hope next week it will be correctly addressed to Lacock. I will get those bills &c & send them to you. Wilkins ⁶ has nearly planted out all the things we bought at Bath. In my garden it took some time as the beds had to be cleared of bulbs & the beds new dug – you would have been surprised had you seen the quantities of roots from the large trees choking the ground. This evening we are going to put some yellow linums in Horatia’s Garden & the remaining things in your Botanic Garden. Wilkins puts them in from six to ½ past 7. and waters them well afterwards – I am sorry you should be stewing in London while we are enjoying the charming breezes which to my mind are an essential feature of perfect Summer weather. – But then to enjoy it thoroughly, one should have nothing to do – Otherwise the heat has the effect of depressing one. – I believe I did feel it so – & besides had a rhumatic weight in my head after the cold wind on the day of our drive to Sloperton ⁷ – but I am more comfortable now, thank you, in spite of M^lle A having been in wretchedly low spirits yesterday She pines after Horatia I think.

I have an answer today from M^rs Henneman ⁸ – she is actually at Hilperton and accepts with evident pleasure my invitation to come here before she returns to Reading. She says she shall not be able to fix the day till she hears from Nichole ⁹ – She does not express any uneasiness on his account – I am particularly glad she will be able to come, for all the reasons which you know of. –

Your affectionate
Constance.

Are you more comfortably located now? – and are you feeling at all less languid? –

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq^re
Athenӕum Club
London