WCP4468

[1]

Pen-y-bryn, St. Peter’s Road Croydon.

July 3^rd. 1880

D[ea]r Mr. Meldola

You will no doubt attribute my non-appearance today to the weather, but it is not so. Being near Portland Road I went by Met[ropolitan Line] to Liverpool Street & took my ticket for Theydon Bois by a train which according to Time table leaves at 2.13 same as Fenchurch Street. Thinking of course that the train started from the side Platform from which I had last gone to Loughton I presented my ticket there as soon as the gate was opened about 2 min[utes] after the time, & was [2] told the train I wanted had just started from another platform. The next train was an hour & a quarter later, and as it then began to rain in torrents & I was doubtful of falling in with your party at all I thought it wiser to return.

I fear you had not much of a time of it as it only held up here for about an hour between 5 and 6.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]