Gloucester House
Surbiton
5th January 1885
My dearest Husband,
I meant to have written to you yesterday, but somehow did not manage it, so I must try & get this posted by the early post. I was so sorry to hear Jack was so poorly & that May & Ethel had colds & hope they are all much better by this time.
I shall be so glad when I can get home & look after them myself, it will be a month tomorrow since I left Badsey. I am feeling stronger today than I have at all, & hope before long to be strong enough for the journey, but I don’t think I shall manage it before next week. Lily is getting on nicely, she was carried downstairs yesterday & was fairly bright, but too weak to stand, however as her appetite improves she will soon pick up.
I hope everything is going satisfactorily at the Brewery & that the new plant works all right, when does Mr Rashleigh return? I began the stout yesterday & enjoyed it, I had been too out of sorts to have it before. Has anything been decided about the church yet? or is Mr Hunt still too occupied with hunting to attend to it. I should like the Evesham Journal posted on when you have done with it if not too much trouble. I have not seen Kitty since Boxing Day, the last time Polly was over she had gone with her cousins to tea at Madame Mondon’s; Polly was telling her one day that poor [?] had no mother, so she said “He must use you & Uncle” which tickled Polly’s fancy immediately. Dear Baby! I expect I shall think him a very big boy when I get home, give them all a good love for me. I hope the ball will be a success & that you may enjoy it after all.
Now my darling, goodbye, with my fondest love
I remain
Your loving wife
Eugénie N Sladden
