618 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1871, 



Only yesterday we learned of Gladstone's doings 

 by a newspaper slip sent us by a friend who knew of 

 you through us on the Nile, Mrs. Howland. But I 

 had a sort of premonition of it and was on the look- 

 out. . . . 



I do not know where the Deanery is, - - not in so 

 attractive a situation as Whatley Rectory, one may 

 safely say. But I suppose you are not expected to 

 reside there in summer, that you will be fairly able to 

 have some country quarters to your liking. And there 

 is Switzerland always within reach. Happy mortals, 

 who can reach the Alps within forty-eight hours, and 

 with only a narrow, though proverbially nasty, bit of 

 water to cross ! But what we hope to gain from this 

 upturning is to see you over here. When Mr. Homer 

 returns (we have heard nothing since they vanished in 

 the West) he will tell you it is no formidable matter 

 even to cross the continent. At least you can come 

 and see us, make us a long visit, and be as quiet 

 here as in a Swiss wayside inn, and sally forth upon 

 an excursion when you like. 



Please thank Mrs. Church from me for thinking of 

 us, and writing the very next day after this anxious 

 matter was concluded. It is wonderful she could find 

 time, with so much to do and to think of. And such 

 a full account of the Swiss journey, too. 



I owe you letters, too, one at least lies reproach- 

 ingly in a drawer of my table, where it was thrust a 

 long while ago along with many others which could be 

 postponed ; but once postponed it is not easy to over- 

 take them. 



Say to Mrs. C. it is not a part of our house which 

 was moved ; that would not have been difficult, for it 

 is cf wood (though the herbarium, etc., adjacent is of 



