57 Avenue Malakoff
Paris
22nd May 1897
My dear Ethel,
You will be looking for a letter from me & so as I have half an hour to spare this morning, I will send you a few lines. Father will have received my letter written in the waiting room at Mâcon; I was very glad I was able to take that fast train, as I got back here about eleven o’ clock (the time I should have been starting from Bourg) & was able to get a night’s rest, instead of spending the time in the train. I feel pretty tired this morning after my two long railway journeys & my head is rather achy, though I stopped in bed pretty late this morning. The hotel I stop at in Bourg has changed hands since I was last there, they have got the electric light laid on there, which is a great improvement, for the bedrooms are mostly large, with dark papers & furnished with dark red velvet curtains etc. so that the light of one candle used to be nothing in them, & they look much more cheerful with the electric light. I think you would have liked to dine with me yesterday; the fast train only stops two or three times between Mâcon and Paris, & nowhere long enough to get any dinner, & as I had lunched, soon after eleven, I was glad to avail myself of the restaurant car which is put on to the train at Dijon. It seemed so funny to be sitting up to table & having a regular set dinner as you dashed along in the train; there are large windows either side of the carriage, so that one could see the country well. This afternoon I am going to the “Bon Marché” to get some night-gowns & afterwards I am to dine with Mme Coeuret. I shall take the morning train on Monday & hope to reach Byfleet that evening, tell Father I shall not write again till I get there. I hope that you are getting on pretty well without me & are not too dull. Give my love to Cyril. I expect he enjoyed going to the Woods on Wednesday; give my love to Father & thank him for his letter. With much love to yourself, dear little housekeeper
I am
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
