TALBOT9064

Dabton January 25^th

My dear Papa,

I did not answer your letter yesterday, because I hoped that we might be able to fix positively on what day we could go to you. but we cannot quite do that yet, as our movements (or John’s at least ¹ depend on the rent days at the beginning of the month, and the rent days depend on certain fast days which John has not yet been able to ascertain exactly. I think however, that may safely promise to be with you between the 10^th & 15^th of February – if that suits your arrangements, and very likely I may turn up first with the children, and leave John to follow when he has finished all his business – I am sorry that we have been keeping you so long in uncertainty, but we have really not been able to settle the time of our going to you any sooner. Our guests, the Maxwells of Terregles² left us early yesterday morning – Their visit went off very well, on the whole, and we found them very ready to be pleased & to do anything that was proposed: before they left, we settled, that is John, Baby & I, to go to them on Wednesday next & stay all night, in order to (except Baby!) accompany them to a concert in Dumfries, for we are to have Grisi & Mario too! in that evening ³ – so I think we shall drive down in time for an early dinner & then go on together. Terregles is very near Dumfries. I hope you will have got the Pheasants in time for your dinner party today & the Pine: if not, it will be in time for the next one. Will you thank Monie⁴ for her last letter, & tell her that it will do very well to leave the receipted bills till I come to claim them. The children send their love, and are quite excited at the idea of going to Edinburgh to see you all – Johnnie is gone to Dumfries, & very likely he may be in Edinburgh again for a day during the coming week, as he has to go & see the Duke⁵ again – With love to all, I remain your most affect. daughter

Tilly

They sent us such lovely lilac Orchids fr. Drumlanrig Garden on Monday!…