We have two of Robert’s boys staying with us while Mrs. Eden is recovering from her sixth lying-in. The eldest of the five younger children is just five years old. Pleasant!
I send this to the Council Office as you desire, and have a vague idea that C. Greville will read it, and throw it into the fire—officially of course, I mean. Ever, dearest Theresa, your affect.
E. E.
Miss Eden to Lady Campbell.
GROSVENOR STREET,
Tuesday, [1837].
DEAREST PAM, Thank you just for giving me a push off—not that of all the days in the year I could have chosen this for answering you. I am in long correspondence with Louisa (Mrs. Colvile) about that flirtation,[397] that little interesting love story I imparted to you, and, as usual, the young people are to be very miserable, because that £100 a year which has been left out of everybody’s income, when incomes were created, is not forthcoming; and as usual again, I take the grand line of “all for love and my niece well lost.” Moreover, I think a small income in these days is as good as a large one twenty years ago; and that anything is to be preferred to a disappointment. But all this—together with due attention to dignity one side and love the other, and no two people ever understanding each other—keeps me writing at the rate of twelve pages a day. I am quite tired of the manual labour, and as I feel convinced that three months hence they will be married, I grudge these protocols.
What fun your visit was to me, and I shall always think that last sin of your drive to Greenwich and back was the best spent wickedest two hours we ever passed. I have been twice for a few days to Eastcombe. Saturday and Sunday we pass at Greenwich. George gardens for about fourteen hours on Sunday, which I suppose is wrong, only that is his way of resting himself. Your most affectionate
E. E.
Lady Campbell to Miss Eden.
March 26, 1834.