[Bridlington Quay,] 3 September 1880 

My dear Laura, 

I have only a few minutes to reply to your amiable letter—we have 
been inspecting a geological amateur’s collection this evening and to- 
morrow we are off to an excursion to Flamboro’ Head. The weather 
here continues grand: regular Rhenish October weather, that is the 
acme of fine weather as far as I know, not a cloud on the sky, hot sun, 
cool bracing air at the same time. Why cannot you and Lafargue 
come for a week, the place is getting empty, plenty of apartments and 
accommodation of every sort. 

I have not heard from Pumps since the letter I had at Ramsgate 
dated, I believe, 15th August. I wrote her at once, and since then, on 
arrival in London, last Friday’ this day week, a postcard, but no re- 
ply. Now I am almost certain that she has written to Sarah or her 
mother Mrs Nicholls who stays in our house during my absence. 

* The law does not concern itself with trifles.-? 27 August 

Would it be too much trouble for you to call there and inform me of 
the result of your inquiries as I am getting rather anxious and as I am 
sure there is some misunderstanding abroad by which I am kept 
without news? 

It is now half past nine at night, all windows wide open and yet the 
fine cool air outside will not come in rapidly enough to enable me to 
keep my coat on. The beer—oh the beer, it would be worth your 
while to come here only in order to drink one glass of beer at the Pier 
refreshment rooms, a nice little café—such splendid beer! 

Moore and Beust are off to the ‘Parade’ (such a thing you know is 
de rigueur* at every seaside place) to hear the music and hunt backfishes, 
of which there are excellent specimens here; you know the backfish 
lives on dry land. At all events before leaving they wished to be kindly 
remembered to both of you.‘ 

Yours affectionately 
F. Engels