Berne 2^d October 1867

My dear Henry

Thanks for your long & interesting letter from Geneva, which reached this soon after breakfast this morning – and gave us all pleasure to know that the first 2 days & half of your journey were so prosperous.– You were lucky in having a clear evening on Monday for the beautiful views above Lausanne! and it was such a chance your not having put off till yesterday, as you affectionately proposed to do when you know of my slight sprain (It plagued me a good deal all Monday – but it was much better yesterday, and is quite gone off now. –) The weather was chilly & overcast yesterday & the chain of the Alps was wholly invisible till quite evening, when one or two peaks were dimly discernible through the mist towards sunset. Today however the whole range is again as beautifully clear as on Monday – and there is a good promise of continued fine weather – I hope we shall see Fribourg & Lausanne as favorably as you did – and we have now settled our plans of the next few days – viz to leave Berne & sleep at Fribourg on Friday – at the Zähringer hof which we shall certainly like, judging from your favorable report. And on Saturday we go either to Lausanne or to the Hotel at Ouchy – Bayer wrote for rooms at Ouchy (Hotel Beau Rivage I think it is called) for Monday, Saturday, or Friday Vevay for Monday or Tuesday. – but they telegraphed to say they could not promise until nearer the day – and we shall know at Fribourg on Friday – Bayer wrote to Ouchy also – for Saturday – If they are full, we shall go to the Hotel at Lausanne instead – as we feel we ought not to delay leaving Berne later than the day after tomorrow – Can you excuse the disgraceful untidyness of the above? – if so, I will continue my letter today (Thursday) in time for the post to Paris – In my anxiety that you sh^d hear from us sooner I attempted to write yesterday after coming in from my walk; but was so tired and stupid that I got no further than the middle of my 2^d Page with all its blunders, and so I broke off in despair & was just going to tear my paper into bits; only I thought better of it, & send it off with a postcript, <sic> to show you that I really meant you should have had a letter yesterday. We have a partial change of weather today – no rain, but a brisk soft wind, and floating clouds – This Hotel is putting itself into winter trim, by taking off the outside shutters, and putting in double windows – Familys come soon to pass the winter months en pension – and this accounts for the comfortable fittings of the house with double doors, fire places & stoves – The promenades of Berne are more numerous than I should fancy most large towns can boast of: – or else the position shows them to greater advantage – E & R^d have taken several pleasant walks, and yesterday Ela turned her steps in a new direction & found herself unexpectedly at the Schänzli, which you know is close to the Botanic Garden by the Railway Bridge – The view over the Town from thence is certainly very fine, – nearly the same as we had in crossing the railway bridge – and the evening was so clear & beautiful that E. came back quite enchanted – There is much to interest in every direction – & I am glad we have this one more day – as there are the Museum & Picture gallery still to see. We have got a Photograph of the Giant for you – he goes by the name of Christophe or Goliath, indifferently and there is no second figure, no David grouped with him, as your recollection suggested. – You will be so soon at Lacock, that our next letter shall be addressed there: – and in the mean time we shall expect the further account of you progress – with anything you have time to tell us about Paris – We shall leave Berne tomorrow early enough to see all we wish at Fribourg – and in our choice of objects we shall be greatly helped by the renseignements in your letter. You managed to do a great deal in the space of a few hours! – and it was equally energetic (in another sense) to write such a full account of your travels on reaching Geneva. I am glad that that Hotel is so well & pleasantly situated – since we propose to stay there a week after leaving Vevay. – And now I must say good-bye – and with much love from myself & the others, I am your affectionate

Constance.