SD2917. Mary Altham Altham to William Surtees Altham

Listed in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 368.

Combe Head

July 4th 1867

Dearest darling Papa,

Many thanks for your kind letter—I shall be quite ready to return home on Saturday– Uncle Harry has promised to escort me as far as the Junction, where he will meet you– We shall come by the 4 o’clock train– Uncle Harry is not particularly well, and Aunt Amelia seems to think a change of air would do him good,—I wish you could persuade him to come to us! However I suppose he could not leave home just now as they are expecting Uncle George to stay with them.

Yesterday was such a pouring wet day; we managed to get out a little in the morning between the showers, but in the afternoon it was impossible–

The clergeman’s [sic] daughter, Miss Bendell, spent the day here on Wednesday, yesterday; and her father and brother drank tea here in the evening. I should be very sorry to be obliged to go to their Church every Sunday, but as you know all about it I won’t enter into the particulars– I go by the name of “Cousin Mary” here, amongst the little ones, I have been shewing Amy some picture-books this morning, and she has been telling me the Letters. Aunt Amelia says she knows them all perfectly, but will not always say them, pretending not to know them.

Rain, rain, rain … I have been hurrying my letter to try and get out before the shower but am too late. I went for such a lovely drive the other day; to a villa,—called Stoodleigh the greater part of which belongs to a very rich old man– He has done so much good, having built a new Church, and twelve cottages in the parish– I have nothing more to say so Good bye darling– With kind love to all.

Ever your most affecate daughter

Mary

I wrote to Alty the other day I am so sorry to hear that Winchester lost the cricket match–

Your Godson has five teeth, and is not yet ten months old, that is rather good is it not?–

Address: Major Altham / Stoke Court / Nr Taunton / Somerset.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.

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