Dabton
Jan 12th 1867.
My dear Papa,
We shall be very glad to see you here on Monday, if you still think of coming then – but I shall not be the least surprised at your having changed your mind with the weather. You know that, as far as we are concerned, it would make no difference at all, should you think of putting off coming for a little while, and I hope you will not make an effort to come on Monday, if you are at all afraid of the cold. Here it has been most disagreable all day, with constant small snow showers. A good respectable fall would be much better. It has not melted at all so I suppose it is very cold out of doors. I have no experience of that, for I have been shut up in my room, and yesterday in my bed with a bad cold – the worst I have had for two years – I suppose it is a mild form of bronchitis. Mary Maxwell writes that she also is laid up with a cold – mine is rather better today, but I have been forbidden to go down stairs. The children’s colds are at a stand still – they are no worse, but cannot get quite rid of them – I hope you will find us all in a more flourishing condition when you come. Charles was to have left us today but we have kept him a little longer as the weather was so untempting. Please give love to all.
Your most affecte daughter
Tilly
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqr
13. Great Stuart Street
Edinburgh