Ashbourne
Folkestone
31st May 1899
My dear Kathleen,
I have given most of my news to Ethel, but thought I would try & send you a few lines as well.
Auntie is having her dining room done this morning, so I am writing in Granny’s sitting room & presently Uncle John & I are to be sent out together I believe.
It is a lovely morning & will I think be a hot day, as it looked very hazy the first thing; I have been very lucky in my weather & have had scarcely any rain, though all last week was very cold & I began to wish I had brought a winter mantle with me.
We went to the parish church on Sunday morning, they like Mr Knollys, the new vicar, very much & he seems a good preacher. In the afternoon we called to see Mrs Irvine & chatted with them for some time, then Charlotte went to service at St Peter’s & I went back to sit with Mrs Sladden. Poor old Granny does not get much more cheerful or contented she is rather a contrast to old Mrs Potter, who though more deaf & feeble, still remains quite bright & interested in what goes on.
Yesterday I left Sandwich about half past eleven & came on to Deal, called at Aunt Sarah’s but found no one at home so went on to Rosway where I had dinner. Aunt & Uncle George seem pretty well, the latter rather thin & aged; in the afternoon Aunt & I went to Walmer to see the Miss Haywards & also called on Aunt Isabel Wood & saw her & Edith, the former was gushing, as usual.
I will let you know about coming to see you when I get back to Richmond. I go back tomorrow afternoon; I miss little Babs very much & shall be quite glad to get back to her.
Should I be able to see Miss Smith on Wednesday? I rather want to do so.
Fancy Miss Du Pre having begun teaching again, I suppose she must be in better health.
It is nearly dinner time, so I must close.
With much love
I am
your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
