[1]

Feb. 28. 1882

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

My dear George

I think we may be expecting a letter from you in a day or two (Just got yr famous long letter, but). We continue to have the same very mild & pleasant weather; but we have at last had a little rain — The tennis court is very popular & they like it much better than turf. Mr Wright the parson of Keston turns out to be a good player

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& Frank likes him to come over — Frank leads more of a bustling life than he used to do, & it is good for him — There is his weekly practice in London, which entails his sleeping there & doing something else, & there is very apt to be something else turning up in the course of the week — The Williams are in lodgings in Albemarle Street & are rather overdone with bustle. I envy him last night going to the H. of C. where he wd hear Gladstone — The times are very

[3]

ticklish & I shd not be surprised at the overset of the ministry, only I can't think the Tories wd like to come in now, except they are prepared for civil war in Ireland. Then the Bradlaugh affair is disgusting & why they did not accept his offer of lying by till an affirmation bill was brought in I can't think —

It is the only just way out of the scrape —

F. is pretty well but sometimes has returns of the pain that stops him walking & makes him afraid of going further than the sand walk – He always finds it comes on when he has had no flatulence.

[4]

Bessy had a pleasant visit at the Parsons & took Bernard to the Circus — He has been acting Circus ever since & seems to like riding his Donkey better, perhaps imagining something. He has a programme written for his performance — He has also composed a piece of poetry with some measure in it, but no rhyme — I enclose a scrap to tell how they go on at Bry Sq.

The maid's illness has been most unlucky & it will be such a pity if she has to give up she is so nice & gentle — yours my dear George E D —

[from p. 1:] Leo takes up his abode in London tomorrow & enjoys the thoughts of it — Fr. likes having his horse — Frank Balfour is recovering well —