My dear M.

This lovely day makes me pine rather to be with you & the dear little ones on the lawn. Thank Willy & Annie for their very nice notes, which told me a great many things I wished to hear & they are very nicely written Give them & my dear Etty & Georgy my best love.

Many thanks, also, for your very nice letter: I can bring your Book for you perfectly. I read your note aloud about the Roman cream, thus, “do get Susan to give me also a pot of Roman cream when she gives you your annual one”. The joke has fructified & we have got them.—

My Father was very uncomfortable yesterday evening, though he played at cards, but he has had a good night & is now pretty well. I c^d not help thinking yesterday, that his health was rapidly breaking up.— This place is looking lovely, but yet I could not live here; the sounds of the town & blackguards talking & want of privacy, convince me, everytime I come here, that rurality is the main element in one’s home.— There was a nice note from Eras. this morning: he is evidently half in love with Fanny Erskine:¹ they say here the name Fanny is fatal to him.—² They seem to have had a grand party at Chester Terrace,³ “Fanny Frank⁴ & her sister⁵ helped to fill the room”

Love to all | Yours | C. D.

M. Sevignè is charming.—

The D^r has talked about Willy & Annie, but says he will not invite them yet, as then he sh^d. feel bound to have them, but that when time is near, if he can have them, he sh^d. like it much: so that this part of scheme, must be quite open. Tell the children I have got a little present for each of them; even for poor Baby.—⁶