188 Boulevard Haussmann
Paris
29th April 1877
My dearest Julius
Before going to school this morning I will sit down and answer your last letter received yesterday evening. I quite agree with you dear that you must go to Ash at Whitsuntide, indeed I didn’t expect you to come over as you told me you had promised your mother a visit. We must wait patiently till June, it is only two months, so you needn’t go quite mad dear.
I enclose one of my photographs, they had not sent them so I went about them yesterday & they forwarded me one copy while I was there. To my idea, it is too dark so when I get the other copies, if I think any of them better, I will send you another. Thanks for copying out the verses, I think them all pretty but like Leigh Hunts the best. When are you going to show me something of your own composition? You have confessed to writing verses occasionally, so must expect to be teased till you show me some. I hope you have succeeded in getting the majority of parishioners to vote for the restoration of the church. I am amused at your indignation against the ‘narrow minded’ people of Chipping-Norton; don’t you think there are plenty of them to be found everywhere.
Since I last wrote, I have received a letter of congratulation from Miss Lyndon, she writes very kindly & of course, as Mamma’s oldest friend, adds a little bit of advice, her letters are generally both serious & laughable, or rather, amusing. I was also much flattered by receiving a kind note from Mrs Pollard, the mother of some of my favourite schoolfellows. As I have only seen this lady two or three times, I thought it was very good of her to write.
I must finish my letter after service, or I will be keeping my class waiting.
Five o’clock - I was at least five minutes late, all your fault, you naughty boy, however, I did not tell anyone that writing to you had delayed me. It is so wet today, such a change after the lovely weather we had in the week. How is your garden looking now? Is my rose-tree in leaf yet, you know the one I mean.
We had a rehearsal of our opera last evening but not a good one, all the singers were flat, I hope they will improve before next Saturday, when it really takes place. After the rehearsal it was Mme. de Duben’s reception evening, several people came in & we had a dance. We did not go to our party on Friday, as Joe had a cold. Poor Joe, I felt so badly about him the other day, someone asked him , before me, what he should do when I get married “I don’t like to think of it, & won’t till the time comes”. Poor fellow, I know he will miss me when I go. And now, my darling, I must close. I did not want this day’s post to go without taking you a letter from
Your own loving
Eugénie N. Mourilyan
