386 REMINISCENCES OF 



turnip-fields. The ground is so hot, directly rain 

 saturates it, every seed will be forced into growth as 

 though in a hotbed. 



" Very truly yours, 



" Spencer." 



" The Nelson " was a very tight fit for us, and 

 noisy, being in the street. 



My wife had never been well since her father's 

 death, and during the winter at Brixworth was very 

 unwell, and towards the end of the season she was 

 confined to her bed. I wrote to my sister, Mrs. 

 Montgomery, at Lillington, and said " if she could 

 not come to help me I should have to shut up ". 

 Jack was at Eton, Charlie at Mr. King's at Brighton, 

 the girls and Bill were with us, and only Elise, a 

 French maid, to look after them. Mrs. Montgomery 

 came to us, and her husband got a bedroom in the 

 saddler's house. 



Lord Overstone had a house at Great Houghton 

 which had been a school, and happened not to be 

 occupied, and he most kindly lent it to me. Lord 

 Spencer lent me his omnibus, and we moved Mrs. 

 Thomson there, end of April. We had to carry her 

 downstairs in her bed. She got better while at 

 Houghton, and used to sit out in the garden ; and 

 we had very nice neighbours in the Rev. J. Gregory 

 and his wife. She was sister of John Stone, my old 

 Eton friend. We remained at Great Houghton all 

 the summer. 



Commenced hunting at Boughton on 25 th 



