Chipping Norton
Nov 18th 1877
My Darling Eugénie,
I was so glad to have your letter yesterday afternoon and it has given me a capitol opportunity of answering it this Sunday evening.
I heard from Charlotte a day or two ago, she has it seems put off her visit once more, you see she is anxious to see George and you know he is, and deservedly so, a prime favourite, however I hope he is about home by this time and will be able to run down to Ash in a day or two after his arrival so that Charlotte can then go across.
I am pleased to know, darling, that you are quite well again I always like to think that you are well and happy.
I am quite in hopes now that Fanny, being better, will come over to our wedding, I only wish Polly could come too.
So you have another wedding present? I can quite imagine it to be a handsome fan by your description.
On Wednesday next I intend to give my final bachelor dinner party, I have asked Willie Bliss, Alfred Hitchman, Rawlinson, Flint, and the Curate, and they have all accepted, the Vicar declined as he is only recovering from a bad sprain and is troubled to move, I may ask one more or so but shall decide to-morrow.
The announcement has just been made that Miss Wilkins is engaged to the man whom she played off against me, I smiled as I thought of the different feelings with which I viewed the announcement to those which I should have entertained two or three years ago, ah, my love, your sweet affection has wiped away the remembrance of bygone sorrow and I can only try to be thankful, as I am supremely happy, in the full conviction that my Eugénie will be to me all I could wish and more than I deserve; when I loved before I always felt, though perhaps tried to drown, a lurking want of faith, but I have lived to find a more perfect love, you, my own darling, have won that full trust which I know so well is the mainspring of a happy marriage, and I think I am right in feeling, as I always do, that my Eugénie has all the confidence in me that every true hearted woman should have in the man she loves!
But I have allowed my pen to run along with my thoughts so much that you will perhaps be calling me sentimental! so I will revert to something more common place.
I hope this week to see the dining room completed in our house, the drawing room is actually finished, so that I can have all the furniture down during the following week, the papering is just about completed so that you see I am getting along, I think you need not fear there will be nothing left for you to do for I can plainly see there will be numerous little matters to arrange which are rather out of my line even if I had time to see to them.
I am getting along with my planting and have a consignment of fruit trees to get in forthwith, with a reasonable amount of fine weather I hope to do all that I projected in the time.
To-day in church I thought how that in six weeks I should be standing in about the same spot, a proud and happy man, with my “little wife” by my side, yes, darling, we shall soon be together now, God bless you and keep you till I come again, and may He help me to be indeed a good kind husband to you, my precious one.
Good-night, and ever believe me
Your own true lover
Julius Sladden
