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1881

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

[29 April] Friday

My dear George

We had the two little Monty Lubbocks to tea w. B. Conny brought them. They looked very pretty dressed in crimson velvet & lace just like the Royal Families of Vandyke ─ They were very vivacious & chattery & enjoyed the slide. The other day Bernard spent the P.M. at High Elms [Home of John Lubbock] & as

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he was coming away said "There's my carriage" so little Monty called out "It's not your carriage" & after a dispute, said with a condescending wave of the hand "It is my carriage, but I will let the little boy ride in it." Bernard has taken to be inconveniently fond of his Dadda & can hardly bear to be left by him, especially when lesson ensue; & I have had to change the time of one of his lessons, so as not to coincide with leaving Fr.

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Hen. is much in the dark about you & was hoping you wd be here over Sunday

They have an engagement on Saturday & so come on Sunday ─ & I rather dread Mrs Haliburton's [Sarah Harriet Mostyn Haliburton, née Owen] visit, F. will have to devote himself entirely to her. Leo. will have the coast entirely clear to devote himself to Rachel, & Fr must take his turn at that duty. Don't you think the H. of Commons shews some hypocrisy in their deep feeling about Bradlaugh

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taking the oath; however I think it will hasten the alteration of the law so as to admit of affirmation.

Bessy is going to do a bit of duty & walk w. the Miss Teesdales ─ Mr Tomkins came in yesterday to ask Frank to come & play lawn tennis w Miss Teesdale ─ He is so alarmingly at leisure that he finds it difficult to sit less than an hour on any occasion ─ The small pox is very virulent & 3 have already died at the Union ─ We are going to have a

[from p. 1:] vaccination on Monday. Mr Ed. thinks that Bern. is still quite safe from his former one ─ He thought the infection was almost certainly brought in rage to the paper mills.

yours my dear G ─ E. D