Badsey
Evesham
Sept 20th/98
My dear Ethel,
I will put in a few lines to you with the atlas which Jack mended last night & also the “Cloud of Witness” which I had a fight with Baylis about after I had seen you off. He at last consented to order another one, though he seemed very doubtful whether that would not also have a stain on it. I said I thought it wouldn’t & it has not. I thought Kathleen would not mind my writing in it, I have left space for her name.
We were very glad to get your letter yesterday afternoon. I am sorry you are not in IVB still you may get moved up yet, it was grand getting moved up in French. How did you like trans. with Miss White? I daresay you do not mind being monitress. I think Gina is a nice little thing, though I know neither of them are over good, you are lucky in getting such a nice room.
Baby has been very well since you went away, though her fourth tooth which is nearly through makes her a bit fretty sometimes, she gave Mother quite a bad night on Sunday, which was unfortunate as Mother was not very well just then the heat last week rather knocked her up for several days she is better now, but not quite the thing still. She has gone this afternoon to the Literary at Mrs Taylor’s & I am writing this while Baby is asleep. Mother had Baby yesterday afternoon & I have her today, we take her alternately.
Yesterday Jack & I went blackberrying & got 4½lbs although, tell Kathleen, the hedge had been picked. Mother made jam of it this morning, we prepared the apples & everything last night.
My little school began work yesterday, they have been very good so far & they seem to enjoy their lessons, they told me today that they could get on well with me because I explained things clearly & made everything so interesting! That is all very nice, but of course “new brooms etc”. We have got our blackboard over there, it is a great acquisition. There were very few teachers or children at Sunday-school last Sunday I don’t know why. My new class of boys were fairly good but they will be a handful I can see.
We have still got some pretty good roses, Father sent some to Mrs Wood the other day & Mr Wood sent us some lovely grapes.
We heard from George this morning, he has got his double remove as he hoped. Arthur is also moved into the fifth & has got an unexpected double remove in Set. We shall be very anxious to hear your place & report next week.
Thank Kathleen for her letter which I will answer another time. What an awful show it was she did not pass in Latin, it does seem hard. Forgive the bad writing, I am as usual in a hurry. There is such heaps to be done. We are getting more used to the small party now.
Much love from us all to you both
Your loving sister
May
Mother sends love to you both & will write to you this week.
