WCP417

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

August 29th. 1896

My dear Annie

I am terrifically busy, with orchids, sphagnums, alpines, sand, letters, papers, watering, writing, eating &c. &c. &c. so must be brief. After we parted at Berne we had a wonderful view of the Snowy mountains, a great range all snow! I hope you saw it as fine. Carriage through to Bale — then trunk registered to London, & carriage through to Ostend — Monday Tuesday night wet, — hope you had Wednesday fine — at Ostend had been wet for a fortnight. Head wind & steamer late at Dover — train slow, & missed my last train ^{by 20 minutes} staid at Waterloo Hotel very comfortable first-rate dinner & [2] good bed. Home at 1 — had telegraphed twice to Kate. Orchids & garden all right — Orchids from Singapore awful — Three-quarters of them dead or smashed — bad packing & sent in bad order. Miss Armstrong is here, but not seen her yet. Gen. & Miss Dunn away — Belladonna lilies gorgeous — your greenhouse a bower! A letter from Will1 dated Aug. 9th. — must have come day after I left. Mr. Sharpe called yesterday just back from Devonshire. The Jacomb’s have left cards. Nobody else called. [3] Write & let me know your adventures, & tell Violet¹ to write when she gets back for what else wants from the garden, but it will be a week at least before I overtake arrears in garden & study. Give my love to Violet & all the Mittens².

Your ever affectionate | Alfred [signature]