Dabton <1>
Thornhill
March 30th 1876
My dear Papa
I was so sorry to hear from Rosamond’s <2> letter of Wednesday, that you were not yet quite well – & had still to complain of that tiresome rhumatism – I am not very much surprised for almost everyone is suffering from the same sort of affection – but I hope very soon to hear that you have quite thrown it off, & can get about as I dare say you heard how long I had been shut up with a pain in my head & face & I am glad to say that that is now entirely gone – & I have been out the last 2 days – the weather is still very wintry but it rains now instead of snowing the snow being confined to the hills – and we may hope for Spring soon I suppose! Your plants have been in the green house ever since they came, it has been impossible to plant them out – Yesterday we planted 4 beds full of roses, close to the house, which ought to look very pretty this summer.
We have pink tulips in the green house, nothing out of doors – the poor snowdrops are over long ago – & the crocuses blossomed below the snow I believe – they are over also – Willie <3> came back to us looking quite well again – he is still taking Quinine – Jack <4> is to come home on Saturday – he is very happy at Capenoch, but naturally longing to get home, as we are to see him –
Good bye dear Papa, Make haste & be all right again in a hurry – Much love from all
Your most affecte daughter
Tilly
Notes:
1. Dabton, Dumfriesshire: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
2. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.
3. Reverend William “Willie” Gilchrist-Clark-Maxwell (1865–1935), WHFT’s grandson.
4. John Henry Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Jack’ (1861–1902), WHFT’s grandson.