TALBOT9046

Dabton,
Thornhill
Wednesday Nov. 29.

My dear Henry

You heard from Ela’s pen of our safe arrival at Cheltenham and subsequently at Southport – both of which visits were pleasant, – and I did not forget your special messages of remembrance to my Aunt Saunders ¹ and your more general messages to the other relations. I found my Cousin Anna Hesketh still lame, but better, and my Aunt pretty well with the exception of a tiresome neuralgic pain in the face. – We were tolerably lucky in our weather at both places, considering how changeable & stormy some days have been since we left the Abbey. The wind must have <been> somewhat awful with you on that Wednesday – and was it not also very rough on Saturday night? – The latter was very stormy at North Meols Rectory. – Sunday & Monday were both fine: and yesterday was a quiet day without wind, and very mild – so although it rained unceasingly the whole day we performed our journey very comfortably – leaving Southport between 9 & 10 and reaching Dabton a little before six. We were joined at Annan by John Gilchrist Clark himself, returning from his day’s business somewhere in those parts – and he brought us home in his carriage from Thornhill Station. –

Matilda & the children are quite well. They formed such a pretty group, waiting our arrival in the Drawing room yesterday. – I think Jack very much improved in tractability – and he leads his little Sister about so carefully & steadily when they are sent together on a message from one room to another – it is quite pretty to see them hand in hand. – Baby Willie was six months old yesterday – and a very fine engaging good tempered little creature he is. – We are going to stay at Dabton till next Monday – and should have accepted an invitation from M^rs Maxwell to spend a day with her on our way to Edinburgh – But we shall only stay at Carruchan one night, and intend to be at 13 G^t Steward Street by a late train on Tuesday – The weather is very fine & mild here today, rather gloomy but pleasant, and I should have sauntered about the garden, if I had not been busy with letters & rather tired with so many journies & so much visiting. – It certainly ends by being rather fatiguing. – Give my love to Charles – and please write me word how you get on together since our departure from Lacock. –

Your affectionate
Constance.

I think Matilda is writing to Charles or she would have given me messages for you, both. –

Ela thanks you for your letter on Saturday evening. We were sorry for the injury to the old crab trees and loss of the Elms. I do not understand where the latter stood – from your description