WCP234

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

June 28^th 1893

My dear Violet,

I got home last evening at 5 — rather tired. It poured all night after you left, but the day was fine on the journey, though it poured all day at Parkstone, the first rain since we left.

As there have been no answers to the advertisements & nobody here knows anybody who will come, even for nothing, I have written this morning to Mrs. Hope asking her, & any friends she likes, to come & take charge of the house. [2] If she cannot come I will write to Mrs. Isling if you will send me her address, which Ma does not know. Please send it at once on a card or in a letter to save time in case Mrs. Hope fails.

The bill at Mrs Eleg[?] was a very short one. I enclose it. I have no doubt if 4 went they would board & lodge you for £1. a week each — or perhaps two at a pound a week if you occupied one room as that would leave the other room to let. They say that in spring [3] there are quantities of primroses & cowslips. Chee Dale & Chee Tor must be lovely then. I find that the 2 birds we saw were moorhens ^(Gallinula), not coots. Moorhens have the red forehead & yellow bill, — while Coots have a white forehead, & are larger. I suppose I never saw moorhens before, facing, but usually swimming or flying away.

The guidebook description of Deepdale is, I see, vague, & implies more than it says. I believe the cave we saw was the cave that has been explored.

[4] The garden looks fine now with lilies & irises, & the pond is almost full of water-lily leaves &c. I send your books & enclose this. If you can think of anyone else who would take the house, send names.

In haste to catch [the] post,

Your affectionate Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]