5 Crescent
Sunday Decr 5th
My dear Henry,
I should not like to engage a visit at Melbury <1> so soon as the 15th for reasons which will take me some time to explain. – & I wish it would do to wait a little – for I suppose you will be back here in a few days & then we can talk it over comfortably – you know we came to the Sea for Ela’s <2> especial benefit & I fancied that two months might do all that was requisite – but this is not the case – for the damp warm weather we have had lately, has affected her exactly in the Same way as it does at home, which proves that she is not yet essentially strengthened. – I sent yesterday for Mr Lithgow to make a plain statement of her whole case – He paid the greatest attention to all Bennett <3> & I had to say – & saw that we were not fancying a weakness that did not exist – He says that sea air is the very most likely thing to set her up for good & all – but that the time already passed here is insufficient: – for that essential good is not reaped so soon. – Now after th coming to this plain understanding on the subject, I have not ceased to regret the distance of Weymouth from London, which I fear must make it impossible for you to let us remain here as you say it is so inconvenient for you – but Mr Lithgow says, “at any rate I advise you either to remove to some other Sea place that may be convenient to Mr Talbot, or else put off leaving Weymouth till the latest possible moment. –
If you can therefore wait till you come here to talk it over, I should be very glad – before we engage ourselves positively in any way. – I am afraid I shall torment you by unsettling all we had arranged – but I could not foresee everything. –
Your affectionate
Constance –
Notes:
1. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there
2. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.
3. Bennett, nurse and governess to WHFT’s family.