Badsey
Evesham
May 13/ 03
My dearest Wife,
The question of the movements of George, Juliet and yourself forms an interesting sort of Chinese puzzle, here is a further solution, a copy of which I have also sent to Ashbourne so that you may get one or the other before you communicate with me – unless you have already done so – I want to write to Dr Wright by Thursday evening’s post to tell him where to send the papers, hence the hurry.
Regarding your movements – Tickets (tourist) from Evesham to Norwich and back, via London, are 26/-.
Ethel could take one of these and meet you in London and Juliet, then she could hand you that ticket in exchange for yours and bring back Juliet free of further cash. Or if George cannot stay longer in Kent let him bring Juliet home on Saturday next with your ticket, then he could do one week’s work here and on Saturday 23rd must meet you in London with a Norwich ticket, hand it to you and proceed to Richmond. The advantage of arranging with Ethel would be that you could start a day or two earlier for Norwich, I can try and meet you there on 23rd and stop three nights returning via Cambridge, you could stop a little longer.
I enclose a letter from Mrs Gepp which you can now better answer but of course you can put off that visit for a bit if it seems desirable, as I said you are to do as you like. Mr Allsebrook just called here to-day he is going to lunch here to-morrow with Mrs (and perhaps) Miss Hands, I have asked Mr Perry to meet them and bring his wife. Mr Allsebrook said one of the Jesus authorities told him they were anxious to get Arthur there as his work was very promising. We are getting along all right but it seems very quiet, I wish the weather were more genial.
Mrs Ashwin came back yesterday, Ethel is going in to see her for a few minutes. John Barnard is engaged at the vicarage much to Phillis’ delight. We hear Mrs P is coming back there for a week and that she is going to take up her abode in Oxford.
I must close now for post.
Love to George and to Aunt. I hope her cold is better, and with much to yourself, dear.
I am your loving Husband
Julius Sladden
You write to J, K, & C this week.
I am sending this to Folkestone as you may not get any letters till your return to Deal.
Tourist tickets to Norwich and back, from Evesham are issued at 26/- via London. Ethel could take one of these and meet you in London and Juliet, then she could hand you that ticket in exchange for yours and she could bring Juliet home without further cash. Or if George cannot stay longer in Kent let him bring Juliet home on Saturday next with your ticket, do one week’s papers at home then on Saturday 23rd must come up to London with a Norwich tourist ticket, hand it to you and go on to Richmond in readiness for his second week’s papers.
Probably the better plan would be to arrange with Ethel, if George is stopping on as then you could start a day or two before 23rd. I will try and arrange to get to Norwich on 23rd via Cambridge, and stop three nights but there is just an element of uncertainty about it.
Tell Charlotte I shall be unable to get to Wye valley on June 7 as I have engagements the day before and day after.
I am sending similar suggestions in a letter to Rosway enclosing one from Mrs Gepp.
