Edinburgh April 27^th

My dear Papa

I was quite ashamed this morning to receive another letter from you before I had answered your last, or thanked you for the nice books which arrived in all safety on the proper day; but I Know you will excuse this delay occasioned by preparations for packing & dividing the things going straight home from those wanted at Keswick &c. Today we are in the full bustle of it all, as you may imagine. – I have Kept the Memoir of Havelock being of convenient portable size to read at Keswick and I dare say it will interest us all very much – and Tilly is going to take Lord Dufferin whom nobody has yet read except Mamie who found it very entertaining –

The weather continues beautiful but it is fresher than last week which really was rather oppressive the change being too sudden – Just now my sisters with Mamma and Mamie, are at M^r Zabo’s being photographised, at least such was their intention if they found him disengaged – Tally’s and my portrait are finished and are thought like, which encouraged the others to go – but they rather regretted giving up the time to it on such a busy day –

Are you beginning again to work at the diggings? I suppose by this time the winter is considered over I wonder the poor little rabbit whom you rescued was not injured by falling into so deep a hole – Will you tell Tally we are rather impatient to hear news of the birds &c I hope he has not forgotten to inquire after them. –

The Horsechesnuts and most of the bushes are turning quite green – The ribes is in full flower in the gardens of the neighbourhood – but the white variety which is the least pretty appears most in favour. – Our Pear trees are in full flower. I mention this that you may compare with the South. – It makes one quite wish to be out of the town and among them all – and I expect we shall find Keswick in great beauty, and the aurieula of Wordsworth’s glen ought to be in perfection – We heard from M^r Wake that the John Speddings arrived at Greta Bank last Saturday so we shall have the pleasure of meeting – but I am afraid the Mirehouse family will be absent – as they were going to London about this time. –

I suppose Charles will have left you by the time you receive this – therefore what I said about him will be useless –

I think Mamie will add a line to this – so I conclude rather hastily

Y^r affec^te daughter

Ela