Dabton
Jan. 14th /67.
My dear Papa,
I got your letter this morning, all right, and I feel really glad that you can put off coming for a little while without disturbing any other arrangements – for I am sure there is a risk in travelling in this weather and every body seems to be catching worse colds than usual. I shall also, for my own part be better able, I hope, to enjoy your visit, after a few days – when I hope to get back into my ordinary. I thought I should have got out of my room today, but I have not been able to leave it yet – my cold & throat are no worse, but I have the agreable addition of a slight attack of toothache & pain in my face. which is hard enough to make one feel stupid. so I should not have been pleasant company today, even if I had ventured out of the room. Miss Clark, who came to us on Saturday, to stay a little while, has been sitting in my room reading me scraps our of the newspapers. Charles left us this morning. he came & sat upstairs for sometime yesterday evening, otherwise I have not seen much of him after the first day he came. John went to Dum fries [sic] with Charles. Mary Maxwell seems to be far from well, with a feverish cold, & he went to see her as she is by herself. The children are better, but still coughing. there is not however I think any thing really much amiss with them – only they find it dull to be so long shut up in the house I will write again, & give a report of myself. I think it was a good thing to give up the Salton visit while this cold lasts. Please give my love to every body –
from Yr affecte daughter
Tilly.
[envelope]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
13. Great Stuart Street
Edinburgh