12 Charleville Circus
Sydenham SE
March 29th 1914
My dear Mother
I must answer your letter, although there doesn’t seem to be lots of news going. Kath and George have gone over to Richmond for lunch today. Presently I am going over to Blackheath to have a walk with Mela, and we propose to call on Mrs Kendall for tea afterwards.
I haven’t been to see her for quite a long time. I can’t pay my usual visit to the Japps because there is no responsible person there to act as chaperone! Indeed Mela has to act as chaperone to Peggy very frequently, and I think the theory is that when I am there her powers of chaperoning are destroyed. However after two “special” Sundays we put things right by Mela coming over here for tea and supper last night. She was not very well while at Brasted, and finished with a liver attack which suggested beginnings of scarlet fever, but fortunately turned out otherwise. Mrs Japp returns in a week’s time, so I presume Mela will get away on the 8th as was proposed.
It has been difficult to do much in the evenings, as there is such a lot to read in the papers these days, and so important that one feels bound to keep well up with all the facts. The question remains how long the Government can go on without resigning. It looks as if Eyres-Monsell’s original forecast will come very nearly true.
I am glad you have got a housemaid at last, and hope you will soon find a cook as well. I suppose Arthur is with you today, paying his last visit unattached.
Love from
Your affectionate son
Cyril E Sladden
