My dear Titty

It seems natural to write you a scrap, though I have not to thank you for one.—rather Severe, I guess I was very well yesterday & today am looking so well, that my Father owned, he should not have known if I had been a new face, there was anything the matter with me— Doddy is looking very strong & almost ruddy to day, but my Father says his motions are far from right. He paid me a visit this morning in dressing room, whilst I was dressing & was very good & brushed his teeth with an old tooth brush of mine, as grave as a judge— I told him to go in Bed room & see if Mama was there & I suppose the sight of Red bed called up his memory, for he continued for so long crying out plaintively mama & looking inquisitively into my face— To day at breakfast there was much scrattle talk, as annual account was wound up, wh’ amounted to 1380£ 10£ less than last year. Is this not marvellous considering my Fathers personal expences—& presents & everything except his childrens allowances are included in this.—

A thunder storm is preparing to break on your head, & which has already deluged me,—about Bessy not having a cap,—“looks dirty”, “like grocers maid-servant” & my Father with much wrath added “the men will take liberties with her, if she is dressed differently from every other lady’s maid”!!! Both the girls echoed this— I generously took half the blame, & never betrayed that I had beseeched you several times on that score— If they open on you pray do not defend yourself, for they are very hot on subject. My Father has taken Parslows¹ long greasy hair into hand, which I am well pleased at, & quizzed him before the other servant, whether he was training to turn into my Lord Judge with a long wig.—

Susan goes to Sea with Marianne on Friday, so you wont see much of her.— My Father seems to like having me here; & he & the girls are very merry all day long.— I have partly talked over the Doctor about my buying a house, without living in the neighbourhood half a dozen years first—

He says your complaint in the ears is very common & very troublesome.

You never saw how the girls doat on Doddy— they say he is the most charming of all the children. I fear he is a coward— a frog jumped near him & danced & screamed with horror at the dangerous monster, & I had a deal of kissing at his open bellowing mouth to comfort him— He threw my stick over Terrace wall, looked at it as it went & cried Tatta with th⁠⟨⁠e⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠grea⁠⟩⁠test sang-froid & walked away— ⁠⟨⁠The⁠⟩⁠ D^r. is going to try new medicine with him.— I suppose Susan in her letter told you horrid fright they had about the mad-dog— Poor old Doddy was safe in bed—but really all had a horridly near escape.—

Ever yours affect | dear Titty, | C. D.—

PS— Please get me out of little draw in upper drawer in chest of drawers in my dressing room my dog-whip. (& leave fish-line) —get it out at once, & then it wont be forgotten.—