Dabton
Thornhill
Aug 21st 1869
My dear Papa,
We were very much pleased to hear from your last letter that Mama & Ela had got safe back to England – It is a wonderful thing that Mama felt so little tired, but perhaps the pleasure of finding herself at home again had something to do with it – I hope you are all safely housed at Lacock now & that Mama may be able to have a complete rest after her fatigues – It does seem a little tantalising that you should be established there within so short a time after we had finally given up our projected visit to you; but I know it was unavoidable on both our sides – & had we come, I mean myself & the children, we should have just happened on the time of your 3 15 invaders, which might not have been convenient We wrote off less than a week ago, to Noel & Emily Mundy, to see if they could come here before the 1st of September, at which time he has to be at home – & they accepted at once, and are actually here, having come on Thursday evening – they seem delighted with the country & surroundings – I had a letter from Ernestine this morning – She was in London yesterday & wrote from the Paddington Hotel – She says Aunt Caroline & she had just come from paying the Abercorns a visit, & were “passing through”, on their way to Mt Edgcumbe – I suppose you did not know of their movements, or you might have encountered – She says “Maude Hamilton is one of the prettiest, & without exception the dearest, best little thing I know – Lord Lansdowne is indeed lucky” – is not that unqualified praise? – Johnnie & Noel are gone out shooting – it is the first day the former has been out this year – it is a beautiful day very hot – give very best loves from all here to the travellers & with the same to yourself,
I am yr most affecte daughter
Tilly
[envelope, elaborate monogram on flap:]
H. F. Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire-