My dear Sir.

Not being very regular at the New Club I did not get your letter till yesterday.¹

I am very sorry to say that I am now engaged every day at South Kensington with M^r. Huxley² from 10 to 5 so that it will be impossible for me to call at Queen Anne St,³ as otherwise I should have been delighted to do.

It was very kind of you to have thought of asking me to stay at Down—but I feel I have no right to take up so much of your own time or that of your family and besides I am very loth to spend all Sunday away from our two little ones, that being the only day I have with them.⁴

I would not have said anything about coming over to Down, if I had thought of doing anything else but what I said.⁵

I lived at Bickley for two years—and what I will still do if you will let me, will be to look at my old home some morning and then walk on to Down— if you are at leisure and feeling pretty, I may have the pleasure of a few minutes chat with you— —if not I will just walk over to High Elms and so home.⁶

I am sorry I have caused you to write such a long letter—because I know all about your health and you ought not to be made to write unnecessary letters.

Please leave it so and think nothing more about it and Believe me | Yours very truly | M. Foster