TALBOT8187

Speddoch Sept 1^st 1860 –

My dear Henry

I have been rather expecting a special letter from you since I thought you had been long enough settled at Oakfield to tell me how you liked the the house itself, and its relative position to the neighbours and to Keswick – M^rs Spedding took much trouble, in the kindest way, to have your morning room furnished and made comfortable for you – And I thought it looked exactly as you would wish it – so quiet, and shady – yet such a warm room when the fire is lighted. – you found it perhaps too quiet at first – from the contrast to the stirring scenes you had left. – and there would be a sad gloom over everything at the time – What a blessing has followed all this! – The restoration of our dear Child is a mercy which we shall ever remember with deep thankfulness – and when I come back to you all on Wednesday I shall have nothing but what is pleasant & comforting to speak of about her. – Today she is preparing to get down stairs for the first time – and this change will I hope improve her appetite which is getting rather capricious – and is difficult to please; for she is tired of game & all plain things, and the Doctor forbids "composite" dishes at present. Perhaps after seeing her today he may take off this restriction, and I hope so, otherwise she may run the risk of being starved. – She walked the whole length of the passage yesterday from the East bedroom, back to her own Room – and took several shorter walks besides – so that she is gradually recovering the muscular power which had been so much weakened by this illness – Her countenance is bright & natural – and she is getting a faint tinge of colour in her cheeks – so now we are quite happy about her. – I hear that you are going soon to Lacock – which I daresay is quite necessary, as you came straight to Oakfield, without any of the things which you would want there. – I am glad to hear that D^r Moir gave Charles much encouragement about his health. – probably if he w^d turn his attention to other subjects now, all would go on well. – What did the Edinburgh dentist say to him – and did he get the warm clothing that he felt so anxious about? – I am going to write a line home to Wilkins, to ask about the state of the Wall fruit – for he has not volunteered any information on the subject – unless perhaps he may have imparted it to you –

Please give my love to all – and say to Mamie that <I re>ally don’t wonder at her despair at such continued rain as she mentioned in her letter to me yesterday. – We had a regular hurricane with rain, as I mentioned – but yesterday was fair, after the early part of the morning – and today also. – though one can see that the weather is anything but settled: and the sky looks wild. –

Your affectionate
Constance

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq^re
Oakfield
Keswick
Windermere