Reference
X919/18
Title
John H Brooks to his wife Sophia Brooks.
Flitwick House Sunday
Date free text
26th June 1870
Production date
From: 1870 To: 1870
Scope and Content
Flitwick House Sunday 26th June 1870
My own darling Wifey,
The funny feeling in my throat which I also spoke of in my letter of Friday turned itself into a cough and this morning I was so inconvenienced by it that I stayed in bed til 10 o clock, had my breakfast there, took a dose of physic and did not go to church. And now (2pm) I am much better and the cough almost gone. I fancy it all proceeds from the Kite, owing no doubt to the unusual agitation it was subjected to on Thursday, so you are not to fancy me really ill, please, or to imagine that I am in for one of my winter coughs. The kindness of the Miss Robinsons and Mr Evans to mother and me is extreme, they come to see her twice a day and are always bringing her something, already they have given her 3 handsome books besides a piece of salmon and for me they bring jujubes and other [?]. It is necessary that some return should be made them and mother is anxious to give them some nice present which I must see about in London on Friday.
I hope you are going on all well at Dieppe and that the weather is propitious for sea bathing. Here it has been miserable since my return and rain threatens though none has yet fallen.
After I had written to you on Friday (by the way I hope my letter was not charged overweight, I weighed it carefully at the club, and found it just within) I had lunch alone at the club, then Campbell of the Madras Army whom you remember cam in and we had a talk and as it was showery I stayed there until 4 when I went to the Governess Institution about your maid. Mademoiselle Oppenheim told me it would be very difficult to get a suitable French person for £20 a year though a German easy enough. The only one she knew of at present was a Mademoiselle [illegible] who was in service at 57 Priory Road, Kilburn but would be disengaged I think tomorrow. She promised to write to her to tell her to communicate with you, her salary would be £22, she was a French Protestant aged 28, a first rate dressmaker, could not speak a word of English and was just from Paris. She added that she was very tall and I asked if she was 6 foot? But I imagine she is about Kates Height which would be handy for hairdressing! If she writes to you and you approve of her she says you have better write and appoint her to meet you at 6 Westbourne Park, Bayswater on Friday next at noon. I ascertained that these French maids are engaged by the month as English ones and if they don’t suit must of course be off sharp.
I reached home at 8, Mrs Evans and the Misses Robinson coming to meet me at the station and found dear old Tit quite well and anxious to hear all the news. She thinks all the photos (especially yours) very good.
I found no letter of much consequence but had nevertheless 12 to answer on Saturday morning, one was an invite from Annie Cumberledge to go there for croquet yesterday, it being her birthday and asking after you all. I think our darlings have got a little present for her have they not? Else it would be as well to bring her a little ivory ornament from Dieppe.
Yesterday afternoon I have the new horse put into the carriage for the first time and took tit for a drive to Ampthill and to call at the Campions and he went very nicely, in fact all one could wish for a young horse. The break is to be sent back tomorrow morning and Gypsy taken for him until you return unless indeed I should meet with something very eligible in the interim.
On Tuesday I have to go to the Quarter Session at Bedford, on Wednesday to Woburn to see Green about the settlement, on Thursday Bench Day and on Friday to London to bring home my darlings, so old Tit will not see very much of me this week I tell her, but she says she does not mind now she has got me home again! Tomorrow she is to take the Misses Robinsons for a drive to Woburn Park if the weather is fine enough for the old ladies.
It will be of no use my writing again dearest as you will not probably receive this before Tuesday afternoon. I hope you will have no difficulty in your homeward journey, indeed I don’t see how you can. You will all need your waterproofs to land at Newhaven for the weather is very different here to what it is in France. Owing to the long drought the fruit will be small and scarce here, you have missed nothing yet by being away. Yesterday Nutt gathered the first strawberries for jam and got 3lb with difficulty and he will get a few more tomorrow and if a good fall of rain comes – as really looks probable now by the end of the week there will be an abundant supply. There will also be a good yield of goosegogs, figs, apricots and raspberries. What have you thought of me and your poor broken casket darling? I am so sorry for it! Yesterday when the Miss Robinsons were here I unpacked it and found the glass shivered into a thousand fragments but the framework uninjured. I shall have to write to Gerrard P on Whitehursts business this week and will then ask him if it is worthwhile having it made up again with fresh glass. I have put all the chocolates into a tin in the store room. Tit is screwing herself up to speak to Emma about leaving off sleeping in her room – as I tell her it is the only chance she has of keeping her.
I hope I shall get a letter tomorrow – I think I [new page] deserve one, though I did break the casket!!
This is a very dull day here, the more so that I do not think it prudent to go out as I cannot go to church – next Sunday will be very different.
Poor Min will be sorry to heat that all the little goldfinches died while I was away. The Bullies are however very well and Figaro is in capital spirits, but he has contracted a bad habit while I have been away, which does not improve the appearance of the hall! That bright specimen of a cat which you imported from Gubbins wood took advantage of my absence for a week to kitten on the drawing room couch!! Did you ever hear of such depravity? As was to be expected from such an attempt at a cat the progeny did not long survive their birth! Cook seemed rather sorry for this when she told me the news, but I told her that no respectable or right minded cat would have done such a thing so that she deserved to lose her fry.
Mother had a letter from Aunt J in which she says she is doing a piece of work for which she is promised £5 when finished and she has already sold a piece fore £2. H & Her husband were staying at Old Windsor for the Ascot Races!
And now I have written you a good long yarn, and as much as you will care to read darling, and will say goodbye until we meet again please God on Friday morning about ¼ to 10. I hope you will find all comfortable at Doctors Commons and get a comfortable nights rest, you ought to be there by 20 minutes after 11 and Jacob (George’s Clerk) will be on the look out for you.
Kiss my darling girls for me, and dear Min Fair, and with kind remembrance to Madmoiselle & much love to your dear self from Granny & me, believe me your very loving hub, John H Brooks.
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