Tuesday April 18

My dear Henry

I think you will like to hear that Ela ^<1> is better today though not quite herself yet – but I expect that all will be quite right by tomorrow – if we should fail however in curing her so soon, you may be sure that we will not neglect to send for the Doctor. – The little wee-Thing ^<2> is quite well; & so am I, having had a less dreamy night than usual – I am afraid you will have had a dismal journey today, without a ray of sunshine – here at least it has been unusually misty – whereby I judge that the wind is even more in the East than usual – I forgot to ask your wishes about letters, in case any should arrive for you during your absence – Am I to forward them to Lacock? – Do write to me as soon as you can, that I may know that you reached home in safety – & pray say particularly how you found M^r Feilding ^<3> & whether Horatia ^<4> is returned –.

I was thinking this morning what an excellent opportunity I might have during the next Month, of taking a few Music-Lessons if my friend M^r Busch is still to be heard of – Do you approve the idea? I feel sorry to give up Music entirely, & I think that a very little instruction now would put me sufficiently en train ^<5> to play Duetes sometimes with Horatia; or a simple air for your own amusement when we are alone – The chief impediment arises from my having left my small stock of Music at Lacock – but I think you might easily find it, if you would take the trouble of looking in the little Tower room. – I left it all together on a chair – in company I believe with some portfolios of drawings – or perhaps it is inside a portfolio. – The Songs would be of no use to me – so perhaps you would separate them from the rest – It is all unbound –

A parcel is just arrived for you from Rodwell’s ^<6> – I long to peep into it. – though I believe my inclination arises from mere curiosity as I have no scarcity of interesting books – I have begun the Comte de Dohna’s Memoirs & think I shall find it amusing. – When you write, do tell me whether your Family are really coming this week & whether I may expect to see them before you return yourself – I think that would be very strange – but I suppose it is possible – If you should be too busy to write yourself tomorrow, perhaps Horatia would give me a line to say how her Father is – I have enquired after little Mary Fitzmaurice ^<7> & find that she is better – it was not the Meazles – only a bad cold – I have had no visitors today.

Ever dearest your affectionate
Constance

Don’t you think this is good paper for 10^d a quire? ^<8>

H. F. Talbot Esq^r
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham

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Notes:

1. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1^st daughter.

2. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2^nd daughter.

3. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.

4. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

5. In form.

6. Rev John Medows Rodwell (1808–1900), orientalist.

7. Lady Mary Fitzmaurice (b. 1835), daughter of William Thomas Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry (1811–1836), MP.

8. Either 4 sheets folded to eight leaves or 24 sheets.