Seward House, Badsey
13th February 1896
My dear Kathleen
I must write you a letter to post in with Father’s to May. I am glad to hear your cough is better & hope it will keep so, certainly this wild weather ought to cure any colds. I have just come in from a walk with the children, we met the Gepp children & Miss Lynes who came back a few days ago. Mrs Gepp hopes to get Helen & Lancelot out of the hospital on Saturday & will then take them to Clevedon for a fortnight’s sea breeze. Blanche & George are to join them next week to their great delight. Ethel talked of writing to one of you this week but I don’t think the letter has been accomplished. The fact is she has been very lazy about letter writing this term, after a good deal of badgering, I got her to write to Arthur about ten days ago, & that is the only letter she has written. By the bye, we rather think a nice collar stud would be a good present for Arthur’s birthday; Father & I shall give him a book I think. I sent on another bill for Miss Poulton the other day & at the same time wrote to Miss [Treby?] & asked her address. She wrote back & said her niece was in Paris & had been suffering from an attack of jaundice, but was better & working hard. I wonder what her spirits were like, I think she must have wanted you & May to tuck her up in bed sometimes, & her poor complexion!
The ottoman & stocking basket are behaving pretty well so far, I don’t think the ottoman has any more in it than when you left, & I got the stockings down to one pair before the fresh lot came in today. Of course, with such a small party there is not so much cooking, or so many beds to make & rooms to dust. We have to take such an absurd quantity of bread now, one small loaf every day is almost too much for us. I expect Tom will be back in another week or two, for Aunt Edith writes that the operation was performed last week; so then our numbers will be slightly increased. George’s report of himself is about correct, I think he tries rather more & his arithmetic is certainly better, but his French! Oh! dear! I don’t think he will ever know any. Please there are two d’s in addition. Cyril asked if he might read the Bible at prayer-time, so he did yesterday & really managed pretty well, of course we have to tell him the long words, he did a little multiplication sum the other day. We hear the Woodwards are giving up their house next June. Mrs. Woodward will be missed by the villagers. Louisa does not get quite right, but seems a little better. Now with much love to you both
Believe me
Your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
