TALBOT7672

[lion crested notepaper:]
Clarges Street Thursday.

My dear Henry

I fancied you were to come back today, when I should have given you the pleasure of a good account of dear Charles, whom I found yesterday so very much better, that it was quite a pleasure to be with him – Matilda & I staid with him several hours, without appearing to produce fatigue, although really he had been very ill, and frightened them all on Monday – D^o Bridgewater must have managed him with great skill to subdue the attack so quickly – and I believe he used a wise discretion in preventing M^rs Steel from writing on Monday as she wished to do, when she knew how ill Charles was He could not have allowed me to see him that day without danger of making him worse – They told me he would be fit to come home on Saturday – as the journey to London is so short – and after resting a few days he may go down with us to Lacock Abbey – The We saw both M^r & M^rs Steel who spoke with great kindness & interest about him – And the Housekeeper & the Nurse are both most kind & attentive. – The Housekeeper told me that his throat was so nearly closed up at one time, that she could with difficulty understand his speech – He sat up yesterday about 5 hours, and when we left him, immediately after his tea (of which Matilda & I partook) he was to go to bed again – He was very cheerful and pleased with our going to see him, which he evidently had not expected. – but now yesterday, he was not sufficiently recovered to give us a clear account of himself except that he had slept a great deal; which was the best thing he could do. – Matilda had a letter from you this morning & Rosamond yesterday – for which they would send their thanks, but they are gone to the Crystal Palace with M^lle Amélina – it is a pleasant cool day for it – I am so glad you had some rain at last, at Lacock.

Your affectionate
Constance.

If Charles had possessed a sheet of paper in the ‘Sick Cottage’ I c^d have written during my visit – but he had left everything in his own room.

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham