[1]

(late Sep or early Oct 1881)

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

[18.10] Tuesday

My dear George

I believe I have been idle to you also ─ business first ─ I hope to go & do my affairs at No 6 tomorrow & the Litches come home on or about the 19th. It is most wearisome work to go on drudging at what you find so tiresome.

[2]

We had Ernest & Arthur on Sat & Sunday as well as At Fanny & U. Hensliegh, who are very comfortable & pleasant & At F. sat out of doors for 2 hrs yesterday w. no bonnet on ─ She had her fur cloak ─ Ernest was very entertaining. He told us that the govt was sure to be firm about the Transvaal. At F. & I have been hard at our Gladstone & his vigour is wonderful ­─ I admired his

[3]

fiery philippic against Parnell the most of his many speeches ─ I hope we may see Miss G. next week at Cam. & hear about it ─ We had also a v. pleasant American Billings to luncheon on Sunday ─ He had a flavour of Tom Appleton about him, & was very amusing as well as a clever man. F. is m pleased at the worms selling so well (they are printing more) & at the good article in the Times. Poor Dubs had a

[4]

disappt last week. Franks was on the point of setting out w. him to Aberdovey when a tel. came from Mrs Ruck to say that scarlet fever had appeared ─ so Fr had to tell him he was going without him ─ There was a gt burst of grief at first & then he screwed himself up & exaggerated his own interest in Wm's pictures & did not give way again, & now v. oddly he does not want to go to Wales ─ (however he thinks Ft will not be long away

[from p. 1] The land is as good as settled & Leo marked out the court. I long to begin. Hen's solemn advice to the family is to keep me well in hand (about cutting down ─ I advice you to read Lord Campbell's Life it is v. pleasant

my love to the other house E D