WCP255

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Oct^r 29^th. 1894

My dear Violet¹

I use the first returning eyesight to send you a few lines. On Saturday Miss Heaton from Natal called & brought you a fine trap-door spider & trap, and asked if you would like another Chameleon. Of course I said yes! & she said she hoped to receive some in about a month & I told her it would be better to send it here as you would be home at 'Xmas.

The only other news is that [2] "Clementina"² — as I hear you cruelly call him — has left for Corfe, so we shall have his evening visits no more.

During my month’s abstinence from reading & writing — Ma³ has been very good in reading the paper to me every day & the "Clarion"⁴ on Sunday. Between whiles, when not in the garden or out walking — which I had to perform with one eye tied up & two pairs of spectacles! — I amused myself learning Poe’s "Farewell to Earth,"⁵ just peeping at a line now & then when I couldn’t remember [3] & also going over it every night in bed, so that now I know it all through without missing a word, I think, — & I admire it more than ever so that I think I shall now give a lecture on it one day.

We have also rearranged the Study & greatly improved it: thus — [a sketch of the study floor plan appears at the bottom of the page] [4] It makes the room look bigger and is much more convenient.

We have had a week’s continuous gale, with rain in torrents & sunshine in between.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]