Lacock Abbey Friday
August 13th
My dear Henry
I received your letter from Zurich of the 5th yesterday – and Ela also had a charming letter containing 2 pictures which delighted her extremely. – Your weather has been as variable as ours – and now it is again beautifully warm & fine – but I am afraid it has come almost too late to be of much use to you in Switzerland. Travellers should have a large stock of time & plenty of patience to wait wherever they may happen to be till fine weather returns – & makes all pleasant again. – I wrote you another Letter on the 3d which perhaps, may miss you altogether – but I hope not, because it contained an enclosure – a light letter which I was induced to send you because it was so light – but I have forwarded no others besides those wh you mentioned having already received – I do remember Zurich & that it appeared rather flat after the much finer scenery we had been looking upon but pretty it certainly is – for what part of Switzerland is not so more or less? – I am very glad that you saw Uncle William & intend to visit him again.
I told you in my last letter that Aunt Matilda had offered to pay us a visit – and now she is actually here & much regretting that you are not at home. – Horatia came back from London last Monday expressly to meet her. Aunt M. came next day, and performed her journey without difficulty or appearing to suffer very much from fatigue. – Wednesday she remained quiet all day, but yesterday Horatia contrived for her to be drawn round the garden in Hor’s own little carriage – but instead of horses she was pulled by two gardeners & her own man pushed. She is very happy to be here and is ready to attempt anything & everything – and I think she fatigues herself more than is right – she is sadly absent & repeats herself often – Horatia actually talks of driving her over to Bowood tomorrow – and on Monday she will proceed to Clovelly to Mrs Dalton’s. There is much of pain as well as pleasure in seeing her here – Besides the continual fear of her doing herself some mischief. – Our little circle is moreover sadly circumscribed by Mlle A keeping her room altogether – since Aunt M’s arrival – so that Hor. & I take turns with our two invalids – Mlle A. has a very severe cold – rheumatism in the head – & is more really indisposed than usual. Ela too is very rheumatic – which I am sure you will consider is sufficient apology for her not answering your nice letter. – She asked me to explain it to you & to give her love and to tell you how much she likes the pictures – she has not had fixed rheumatism – but flying pains & great stiffness in the joints succeeding – It has troubled her now for ten days or more & she cannot even take a walk these fine warm days – No doubt she as well as Mlle A. caught cold on one of the sudden changes of weather – & I hope they will both be better soon. – Valletort was much better when Horatia left London, & they went down to Southampton next day & were waiting for fine weather to proceed to Cowes – for that day there happened to be a great deal of fog.
Lady Sligo answered your letter a few days ago & said she preferred keeping to the general agreement made with Mrs Marsh & leaving the house in your hands till the 1st January – I feared we could not expect to get rid of it – and I hope in some way or other you may still make a convenience of it – My Sister is at Marle Hill for a short visit Mr G. took her there & remained one day & was delighted with my Aunt’s kind manner – I was most pressingly invited to meet them; but could not think of it, as Aunt Matilda was to be here at the same moment – My Brother & Harriot are gone down to Markeaton – which proves how much better he is – I believe I have written you a very snatchy letter my dear Henry but today being far spent before I got beyond the first page & tomorrow being Saturday & no post to London, I was determined not to postpone for fear of missing you at Frankfort –
Your affcte
Constance.
<address panel:>
Germany via France
à Monsieur Fox Talbot
poste restante
Frankfort sur le Main
Allemagne
<pmk:>
14 AU
1847