Lacock Sept 30th 1860
My Dear Constance
I enclose a letter wch please return from Mr Headlam, which is not very satisfactory. I am glad he has taken Charles to Newcastle to see Dr Headlam. I propose after depositing Charles at Cambridge to run down and pay you a little visit if I can. What a long time the box of books was making its way to you by luggage train! The weather is dark and gloomy but very mild. We have had no equinoctial winds to speak of, while London & Paris have been visited by tempests. The trees waved a little one day, and caused forebodings of a gale but it did not come. I am very glad the fruit reached you in good order it is a pity not to have it Tho’ limited in quantity this year I think the flavour is good. The plant you sent from Edinburgh with fat leaves, flowered vy finely this summer. I think Ly Mc Neill gave it you, I forget whether I took charge of it and brought it here. Rochea falcata is its name used to be Crossula falcata. Lucy Pullen makes me comfortable enough; but I think she is not quite so good a cook as Rebecca. She does not shine in pie crust. R. did. the Abby looks decidedly gloomy such a day as this, to which the fall of the leaf adds, they are falling without changing colour. When the sun shines the place is pleasant. I wrote to Rosamond yestdy with an account of the flowers – We have a sprinkling only of varities [sic] this year. We have none of the beautiful Gladiolus you have at Oakfield, which is a new variety of the psithacinus – we have lost even the old Kind & many other things we used to have. The house is not damp but begins to feel rather Autumnal. I think Charles will want a supply of linen for Cambridge. I thought it too soon for M’s visit to Dobton and rather rash. But she had taken several previous drives with success. I am glad R. has taken to sketching – has she made anything of Highstock bridge? The river there is a fine one but not exceedingly picturesque. Her view of Isaac White’s cottage was very like.
Adieu
Your affte
Henry