Castlet Cottage
Sunday Evening.
My dear Henry
Having promised you a few lines before leaving Keswick, I shall put this in the Post tomorrow morning before we start, to tell you that we hope to be with you as I said before, on Wednesday by the Express – Will you send the Carriage to meet us – and the Cart for our luggage, at Chippenham – on Wednesday – If the Evening is showery, or chilly, the carriage will be best closed – indeed I think that at that late hour it will be scarcely prudent under any circumstance to have it open. – Last night we drank tea at Ormathwaite to meet Mr & Mrs Tayler with their Daughters, just arrived. We were especially pleased with the elder of the two girls, and with Mrs Tayler, who reminds me forcibly of Mrs Shakespear. They have unluckily had showery days for their two first – yet they seem delighted with the beauty of the scenery, and it is their first visit to the Lake country. – This evening we drank tea with the Speddings to see the last of them, and the first & last of Johnny, who is just come –
Tomorrow we leave this at 11 that we may have a nice evening at Windermere; and I hope I will be fine –
I did not write to accept your offer of cuttings for Greta Bank, because I thought they could scarcely arrive in time; and that it would be quite as well to consult about it at home, and send them direct to Miss Spedding. They have a Magnolia in full flower on the wall of the house close by their Greenhouse. I dare say you remember seeing it.
Thanks for your letter received yesterday. We heard from Charles today – it was a cheerful letter, but he said he was not feeling particularly bright.
Your affectionate
Constance.
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham