WCP219

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Jan[uar]^y. 7^th. 1891

My dear Violet

Your letter has just arrived. You have indeed had an adventure, & I hope you "threw style into it" as Tom Sawyer did. As regards Mrs. Lund the silence of the tomb has prevailed since you left, — no telegram, — no letter! — They are certainly most business-like people, & seem to have reduced the practice of "how not to do it" to a fine art. When Mrs. L. wanted to arrange about meeting you she appears to have always written to Florence to tell you to write to her [2] — and Florence always gave you her wrong address. And when Florence found the house was not ready & had to tell her mother to put off her & your return, she then told her mother to write to you, & gave her mother your wrong address. Nothing else will explain the mystery of your letter & telegram to Mrs. L. all remaining unnoticed, — and the result is that you have commenced your travelling experiences with an [3] "adventure", — & you ought to be very pleased, for adventures are rare in England now-a-days. I hope the "old friend" whom you fortunately found in the house, ordered you something to eat good & hot, & a fire in your bedroom after your long cold journey.

After such a beginning you are sure to have other "adventures" in Liverpool, so pray give us a full account of them every 3 or 4 days.

Your affectionate Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[4] P.S. Ma sends her love & hopes you will take care & "not get cold"!! At Crewe there must have been one of the back carriages off the line, or something of that sort & a narrow escape of a real accident. Let us know what it was. What is the weather like at Liverpool. The Arctic region is [one word illegible] to it here.

A.R.W. [signature]

The enclosed letter from Croydon came directly after you left. A.R.W.