TALBOT7545

4 Athole Crescent
February 11^th

My dear Henry

We shall drink your health with due honors today – with many wishes for health & happiness during many future years: with regret at your unavoidable absence at this time – and hopes, that on reaching your journey’s end today, you may not have found Lacock looking too gloomy in its quietness. Rebecca has the art of making good bright fires when she sets her mind to it – and I dare say she will not have failed on the present occasion. Our undertaking last night went off as prosperously as could be expected We had a comfortable carriage, and did not find our drive to Dalkeith either cold or tedious – The circle of lights inside the Lodge gates looked brilliant & pretty – and we did not regret falling into a short string of carriages that we might have time to admire them. – The effect of the temporary covered entrance, hung with crimson cloth & decorated with Rhododendrons, was very gay & pretty. – But I must pause; for Rosamond comes in & tells me that Matilda is going to write you a description of the whole affair – The Duchess was gracious and shook hands with us – and said she thought she must have known you formerly. The crowd in the reception rooms was quite beyond what I had thought possible. Pretty dresses, (of which their [sic] was no scarcity) were woefully crushed. The Girls & I were as badly off as anybody while making our way through the dancing room – but M^r Primrose helped us through by slow degrees, and placed us near his party, where we got seats, and were close to the dancers all the evening, with a knot of friends round us – Officers in full uniform and gentlemen in Highland costume looked very gay. and everybody was well dressed. It was altogether a beautiful Ball, especially when half the company descended to the Supper room – Many went away about 2 – and we had ordered our carriage at 3. – but from the some cause or other, (probably mismanagement of Samuel,) who never once heard his carriage called, although our friend M^r Gilchrist Clark went out several times to ask for it, we waited an hour & ¾ – and reached home at ¼ to six – which was somewhat later than we wished. – Yet I don’t think any of us are the worse for it, beyond feeling tired. And we were very fortunate in having a fine night. We met plenty of people of our acquaintance, but could only approach some of them, on account of the squeeze. Rosamond & Matilda looked very nice till their dresses got flattened – but many girls shared the same fate – and some of those who danced much had theirs torn into shreds – Officers’ spurs are very destructive, and should really be laid aside with their swords in the antichamber [sic] – With love from everybody & mine too, y^r aff^te

Constance