Seward House, Badsey
3rd October 1895
My dear Kathleen
Thank you for your nice long letter which I was pleased to have; we are very glad you gained so many places in your form & hope in a few weeks’ time that you will have crept up quite near the top. Do you know whether there are any reports sent home at the middle or end of the term? No doubt one of your school fellows could tell you. I will try & send the drawing boards etc in a few days, but they must go by rail as they are too heavy for post. I can only see an old Latin Dictionary, Smith’s, must have been Miss Poulton’s, but will send that. The French dictionary I can’t spare as it is the only one we have, so if it is a necessity, you must get one probably you & May could manage with the same; Cassell’s is not a very expensive one. I cannot understand about your chemises they are not at home, did you miss them when you first unpacked? Have they got among May’s things, I might easily have put them in the wrong box. Let me know if you don’t find them as I must have two more made in that case. Have you written to Auntie Fanny yet to tell her the visiting days? I expect they are back at Surbiton, but have not heard. Miss Pollard is starting for South Africa on the 18th inst on the “Bulawayo”, she is now staying at Staines & I asked her to go & see you on Saturday, but she can’t as she has an engagement that day, however if it were very wet, it is just possible she might come. Would she be allowed to see you any other day? If so, you had better write to her, “The Chestnuts, Staines” & tell her when you could see her. The sale at Aldington yesterday was quite a success, there was quite a rush at first & in the bustle & crowd someone walked off with my nice black mantle, that you liked the collar of, & never paid for it, isn’t it too bad? It was marked 7/6. I lunched at Mrs Savory’s & then she & Cynthia drove me to Mrs Adkins for the “Literary”; it was purely a business meeting, choosing fresh committee etc & there was no time for music or reading. Cyril sends his love & thanks you for your letter; he has been very busy picking up fruit & I am to tell you the little piggie is dead. I will try & get Phillis to make you the serge blouses, but she seems very busy just now. Do you still have to do nothing just before dinner, if you cannot do lessons, wouldn’t you be allowed to do your knitting while waiting for dinner? Our Harvest Thanksgiving is next Sunday, so I shall be busy on Saturday, after that I think my extra work will be over for the present; but no doubt something else will crop up soon.
It is close upon post time so I must close. With fond love to you & May
Believe me
Your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
