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4 Bry

June 7. 82

Dearest Mother.

The trains certainly have muddled their ways form mine yesterday was 4 minutes before its time at Cross. & absolutely punctual at Ch. X. It made the journey seem such a little one. My flowers arrived quite unhurt & I arranged them in the dining room whilst R. say by & told me his news. The chief was that Hayes station is absolutely below

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Mrs McLennan's house […]

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the measure of one of the miniature frames.

Also would Jackson take the measure of the new north room grate – the width height & depth - & width of back of grate [sketch] Id you can understand my plan.

I want to get some ideas abt grates to meet Mr Streatfield with.

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I have been to Elliot & Fry to see their enlargement of the photograph. It certainly is a wonderful enlargement & I have asked them to send it round for Leo to look at tonight.

Mr Fry assures me that it is absolutely untouched in any degree every wrinkle & marking printed straight off from the negative.

Father seems to have charmed Mr Fry as he did everybody.

If Leo likes this photograph I shall get leave to bring it

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to Down. I thought it was one of those painted up things – but it is merely an enlarged carbon print.

I felt it very melancholy last night & this morning – partly leaving you, dear mother but partly coming home always seems to make the blank so felt. I can't tell why it shd be so – but I suppose I have got used to daily life in the new Down in a certain sense - & here

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all the change in our lives comes upon me with fresh sharpness – I feel as if I had never prized it whilst I had it & now it is all too late.

I hope you will be less tired too as dearest mother & I am glad to think Mr Goodwin will be gone so that you will be quite a family party.

Will you tell Bessy I am going to lunch with Elinor

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tomorrow, so I hope she is coming on Friday as far as I am concerned.

[…]

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into necklaces. […]

[From p. 1:] goodbye for now my own dear mother – your H.E.L.