11 Randolph Crescent
Thursday April 21st
My dear Henry
I should have answered your letter of the 16th had it not reached me on the morning that Matilda & I were preparing to start for a visit of introduction to Mr & Mrs Maxwell in Dumfries – I remembered your recommendation to make acquaintance with Mrs Maxwell on the earliest opportunity – and we thought we could not do it in a more satisfactory way than by going to visit her in her own house – Accordingly we accepted her invitation & were allowed to name our own day – So on Saturday last we went to Dabton; escorted by Mr Clark – and we returned on Tuesday – We were as much pleased with Mrs Maxwell as we had been led to expect – and we had much comfortable talk with her. On Monday we four drove over to Speddoch & lunched there – and walked about the premises – and carefully considered the capability of the house – We had a very fine bright day – but very cold. – yet the place looked comfortable for the Housekeeper had lit fires in all the rooms – We will give you a description of it when you come – only remarking now that we agree in the opinion of those who call it a Summer residence – & indeed it appears never to have been occupied by its owners in Winter – While Matilda & I were sitting together for half an hour one day at Dabton, she told me that Rosamond had confided to her the dread she felt of going just now to Greta Bank – which piece of intelligence somewhat startled me from the shortness of the time allowed for any change of plan – between this & the 29th when our term in Randolph Cresnt expires – Yet I had had the same feeling myself that it could not be prudent for her to take a journey while the weather continued so cold & unsettled – In her weak tender state it might produce very serious consequences. Nor is she at all fit to be out of the Doctor’s hands – wherever she may be – We know nothing of the Doctor at Keswick – and he might possibly mistake the treatment from not having previously watched the case – what do you say to prolonging our stay at Edinburgh for a month or thereabouts & perhaps giving up Greta Bank altogether? – I have already made two attempts to see Mrs Sandford & ascertain whether we must quit No 11 – on the 29th – and am going presently to call on her again – But if they turn us out we very easily find another & perhaps cheaper residence – This month would be most usefully occupied in ordering & chusing the Trousseau – which I believe would be managed with considerable difficulty & very imperfectly at Lacock Abbey – And were we often all forced to go to London to complete it (from Lacock) the expense would be at least as great as that of <of> the rent of the house at Edinburgh – and the trouble of the journey to London – and of finding out the best shops, would be very great – And the loss of time would be considerable – Altogether the arrangement which I now propose would seem desirable. – Since writing the above I have spoken to Dr Moir. requesting his own opinion about Rosamond – He says that the weather is evidently retarding her recovery – that it is a great source of regret to him that her progress has not been quicker – and though he did not like to say so until asked, he does not consider her fit for a journey – or that her case could be put into other hands without risk – I have also seen Mrs Sandford – She could not give me a decided answer without consulting her husband – but I thought her manner implied that the proposal did not quite suit their arrangements. I told her that the case was such as to admit of our moving easily into another house, of which I had no doubt there were plenty at this late period of the Season. – and that we should not wish to put either herself or Mr Sandford to the slightest inconvenience – She promised me an answer this Evening – but of course it will be after post hour. I will lose no time in enquiring about other houses if the answer is unfavorable – and will write to you again tomorrow –
Your affectionate
Constance
I hope this change of plan will not bother you exceedingly – I have other plans to suggest, but think they may keep till you come - as it is long to write, and depends on circumstances not yet certain – Mr Gilchrist Clark is now taking into deep consideration the expediency or otherwise of persuing his profession – He expects to collect many valuable opinions in the course of the next fortnight or three weeks – when his legal friends will be returning to Edinburgh –
I dare say you recollect that you can always save a post when you are expecting a letter from me, by sending over to Chippenham for the day Mail – at least this applies w letters from Cumberland & I suppose equally from Edinburgh – I will try tomorrow whether putting a letter into the post before 3. makes any difference in the time of your receiving it. –
We have just passed a unanimous vote that ‘Punch’ is grown too stupid to be endured in polite society – Will you take an opportunity of stopping him when you write to your Newsman? for he is become a useless expense & nobody cares to read him –
When we left home I remember the registering thermometer still hung out at the hall door – It should be taken in – for safety. It would be interesting to have it at Edinburg, <sic> if you could bring it without trouble. –
Your affectionate
Constance