St Margaret’s, Clewer, Windsor
Oct 29th /99
My dear Mother
Thank you very much for your long long letter, for the pretty tie you sent me. I am so glad you have enjoyed your trip. I hope it has done you good. The exeat was given out last Monday, it is next Sunday, this time we are to have the whole of Saturday as well, so we shall be able to go on Friday afternoon. Kathleen wrote to Auntie and has had a postcard to say she will be able to have us. We shall have all Friday’s writing work, and Monday’s learning, and we are not allowed to go till Saturday morning, unless we have done it all. I must try and get mine done beforehand. But of course Friday happens to be the day on which we have most writing to do. It is rather nice of them to give us the extra day, it is partly because there is no other holiday this term. I was 3rd in form, 1st in German and 5th in French yesterday. The girl who had been top all the other weeks has been back over a week and was 1st again, so it shows it was mostly that which made me top. I am glad you went to Rouen and enjoyed it so much, it must be a very interesting place. I wonder how the new Ada will get on, I hope she will not be like your usual success with servants of that name. How delighted Baby must have been to get you back again. I am glad you saw Miss Pollard, as it is some time since you had, wasn’t it. Did you hear anything about Miss Dunham thro’ her? I should think Auntie Fanny must find all the steps in their house very trying. I am sorry she does not seem very well. The prizes for the competitions have been given, we did not either of us get one. I certainly think Kathleen deserved one, but she had not time to finish everything quite nicely off, and I expect that was why. There were very few things given in, and they only gave a very few prizes.
I think I ought to write to Jack and May so will end, with very much love to all, and many kisses for Baby.
I remain
Your affectionate daughter
Ethel N Sladden
May asked me to send a birthday list, I will try and think of what I want included in it.
