COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 89 



" 79 Onslow Square, 



^^ 20th August, 1873. 



" My Dear Maria, — 



" When putting away some old letters I 

 found one from you in which you say you should 

 like to know the routine of my days at Charleton. 

 I do not think I ever answered that letter, and in 

 truth I had no routine more than every one must 

 have who has a husband whose wishes she must 

 consider, and who has a house, children and 

 servants to look after ; but if you care to know 

 how I passed my time, I will tell you as far as 

 my memory serves me, for it is now a very old 

 story. 



"After leaving my room of a morning I had 

 no fixed hour for anything but meals. We break- 

 fasted at 9 and dined at 5 or 5.30 in early days. 

 After breakfast I ordered dinner, etc., etc., and 

 John's father rode over his farm ; then I possibly 

 wrote letters or went into the garden or read my 

 book. We rode out, or if J, was hunting, which 

 was only twice a week, or he had gone up to one 

 of the farms or to Cupar, I either spent my time 

 in the garden or drove out and visited my neighbours 

 occasionally. 



"In summer evenings we used to have pleasant 

 walks making plans for improvements. In winter 

 read, and I worked or played on the piano. We 

 had often the doctor or the minister or sometimes 

 a stray man came to dinner, for in those days a 

 man would come in or send his groom before with 



