Seward House, Badsey
21st October 1996
My dear Kathleen
I must write to you this evening as there is not enough time in the day. The “Elephant” departed last Saturday, & so far I have no one to replace her, so Ethel & I are very busy & Ethel’s housekeeping education is getting on better than her book-learning. This week we have Mrs Nightingale in, but as she has had all the washing & ironing to do, we have had to do most of the other work. I am very glad you were so high last week & hope you will not come down with a run again; I expect you are getting interested in your German now, it must be rather nice for you having lessons from Miss Smith by yourself, & you ought to get on well. I hope you will have it fine for your exeat this time & enjoy your little visit to Byfleet; Auntie wanted me to go up there at the same time & I should have liked it very much, but of course I cannot possibly get away from home just now. You must tell me all about the house etc when you write. I hope your clothes are still fairly respectable, you must try & keep yourself tidy at Auntie’s. The Literary at Mrs A Haynes’ last week was put off; next week it is to be at Mrs. Adkins’, I have to play & also to read rather a long part, & so far, have neither practised nor read over my part. Is the book you speak of a translation from the French? Who is the author? Jack had another rather dreadful sum to do today, I think he has managed it. I think he misses you elder girls a good deal & finds it rather dull when he is not at work & of course the weather has been anything but inspiriting. My cold is better & now Father has one, he has just been startling me by a most tremendous sneeze!! Cyril & Ethel went to tea at Mrs. Wood’s on Saturday, & now Cyril indulges in long conversations with the little girls “over the garden wall.” Isn’t George tiresome? He never will write properly when we most want to hear; he ought to have told us his form place this week. Mrs. Wood is getting up a glee society in the village, a lady from Birmingham will come & teach them & they think about thirty will join. I don’t know whether Father will let Ethel do so, I think she would rather like to. I must say good-night now; with much love to May and yourself.
I remain
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
