TALBOT9645

3 Chesham Place
Friday May 27^th 1870

My dear Henry

It was very wrong of me not to have answered your letter & kind invitation to Laycock Abbey – but I fancied you meant us to go there on the way up to London – & as I got there before your letter, it was of course impossible to do so. I must have laid my plans obscurely before you – but they were hampered & altered by the marriage having been put off twice, because the futur ¹ had overworked himself, & was not well. Originally it was to have taken place on the 12^th then on the 19^th & we should have gone back for it from Bournemouth – & at last on the 24^th

Once in London, L^y Brownlow ² did not wish me to go all that way back again expressly for the ceremony – so I remained here – Only Ernestine ³ went down, as she was Bridesmaid, with Georgie Edgcumbe, Emma Cust, ⁴ & Miss Quin, a young friend.

The names of the “Happy pair” sound very romantic – Herbert & Flora S^t George. ⁵

You have heard a true account of him – He is young (not too young) 25 – poor & Clerical – only as yet in Deacon’s orders – But his Aunt, (a M^rs S^t George who has long resided at Torquay) helps them, & so does Lady Brownlow. His curacy, in County Mayo, only gives him £100 a year. I have not seen him myself, but I hear he is not good looking, & very insignificant in his appearance – but has a pleasant countenance, & is, I believe, thoroughly good & amiable. He is moreover completely devoted to Flora.

The Wedding went off very well – everyone in excellent spirits – & Flora quite beautiful! They are gone for a few days to Thanckes, George Edgcumbe’s ⁶ House, & were to go sail today, by long sea, to Dublin.

They will only be able to stay 3 or 4 days at their home, before they will have to go to some place, for his ordination – so they will not be settled for some little time.

Now I have given you all these details, I consider that you are bound to answer those three questions –

1^o Why the Moon always turns the same side of her face towards us?

2^o Why it is always high tide on both sides of the globe at the same time?

3^o Why do starts twinkle?

Edward Nicholl’s ⁷ marriage must be a great distress to his family; I have heard however that Jane ⁸ has taken it better than could have been expected; but it is universally asserted that he never could return either to Lacock or to Llandolph.

Love to Constance & Ela ⁹

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline