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Sunday Aug 15. 97

My dear George,

Very many thanks for sending me the account of the proceedings – I liked both your speeches & dear old Hooker's.

We had heard before from M. Shaen how well

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you had both spoken & how nice it was. It gave me a pang that I had not made a great effort & gone. I could have quite well as it happened — However that is too late & is a vain regret.

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I had a painful feeling that it was disloyal to Father not to have tried. I wish Bernard & Rasmus had been there.

I wonder much what is happening to you & whether the negotiation with Miss Clarke came off ­– I hope it did as it wd be such

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a bother to have to rebegin the looking.

Our home is still answering very well – How it will be if the weather breaks goodness knows – It has all the look of a complete change, a steady soft down pour. We've been meeting Adeline Fisher – Ralph's

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intended – She is not much a beauty as Mrs Maitland but very distinguished & striking looking & I think he is an extraordinary lucky fellow. She gives a good account of the poor Stephen's & Mr Hills.

The ball at L.H.P. which was to have been a good deal

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for them went off extremely well & we much enjoyed ourselves & stayed ever so late.

There are many functions & dissipations.

It is extraordinary the different feeling from Down! where we

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knew no one & the few we did know did not seem to come as.

My love to Maud & the chicks-

your affect HEL

R. is I think going on quite well. He is trying to walk a little more & drives freely.