WCP219

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Jan^y.. 7th. 1891

My dear Violet¹

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. Ma² 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 nothing to it here.

A.R.W.

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