[1]

(Aug 23 81

Wed —

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT.

My dear George

Here is a pleasant note of old Reginald D which you may burn — At [Aunt] C. & Sophy drove to Q. A. St. on Monday w. very little fatigue; but found poor Eras in a bad fit of ague — [insertion:] (He died 3 days later) At C. however sat w. him some time in the p.m. which she thought he liked; but I am afraid she was mistaken.

[2]

Yesterday he got up but had to go to bed; so that she did not see him — She will return home tomorrow & it will be a sad disappt to her not to see him but I hope he may recover as quickly as usual. We had a grand clearance on Monday in 3 detachments. Margaret taking her 2 boys up to a surgeon (very difficult to find in London at this time of yr) They are both troubled w. sinking of the instep (like Wm) Meggy & the maid straight to Shearness & At C. & Sophy to London. (Margt is very tasteful & pleasant & I think liked her visit)

Today the Moores are coming from Ravensbourne to dinner. Fr & Dr Moore went a pleasant tourlet on Monday — to Orpington, Tunbridge Junct — walked to Penshurst, lunched at Chiddingstone, walked to Hever & Edenbridge & to home again — I think your weather must have been worse than ours, tho' it could not well be worse than it was yesterday p.m. — It is horridly

[3]

dismal. F. & I have fixed our pilgrimage to Worthing for tomorrow fortnight — 2 nights — but we shall have hard work to avoid staying w Mr R's. We are resolved however to stick to the Hotel as to much less tiring.

I am getting B to ride oftener by way of getting Daisy to be not so frightened at things in the road —

She is by far the prettiest donkey I ever saw — I fully expect to hear that Abinger was

[from p. 1:] a success to the end. Horace wrote me a prosperous beginning

yours my dear G.

E. D

F. has been charmed w. Horace's slicing instrument ↓even I want to see it.