Dabton
August 28th 1866
My dear Papa,
I found your letter to Jack on his birthday lying here, when we came back from Drumlanrig on Monday. I read it to him, & he was perfectly delighted at receiving it. Today we made two attempts to print you an answer, but some of the letters went wrong, so a fresh beginning is to be made tomorrow. Jack & Connie & Baby came over to Drumlanrig on Saturday to spend the afternoon with Lady Walter Scott’s children also three in number and they were very happy & merry. Although the day was so wet that they could not go out at all. There were not many people at Drumlanrig while we were there. Lady Margaret Scott was away, & she is lively and pleasant, so one missed her. Lord Herries & his two daughters were there – he is pleasant. – A very queer man, Mr Cyril Graham, amusing & Lady Hume Campbell, & the last two days, Lord & Lady Queensberry, who are both very young & rather shy. – These were not all there together – of the family besides the Duke & Duchess & Lady Mary who is not grown up; were lord & Ldy Walter & Lord Charles Scott. – I brought back a quantity of curious funguses, and a book upon the same – It is very scientific – and one I have of my own is too popular – so between the two it is very difficult to recognise the species – There are thousands of them this year – some very pretty.
I think we shall not be leaving home again for some time – Mary Maxwell is gone to Speddoch to see the Maxwells of Gribton – I have not heard lately from James Ferguson, but he was much better a short time ago, & the doctor said he did not now think that there was any thing wrong with his heart, as he had feared at first – We have a cousin of John’s staying here now – Arthur Jarvis – a young man of eighteen – It is difficult to know what to do with him so he has been sent fishing.
Love to all Yr affecte daughter
Tilly