Gloucester House
Surbiton
25th October 1893
My dearest Husband,
Thanks for your letter which I was pleased to find here on my arrival. I had a very comfortable journey here yesterday. I started from the Pension a little before ten, intending to lunch at the station & take the 11 o’clock train by Calais & Dover, however, on arriving at the station, I found a train just going off, via Boulogne & Folkestone which would get me to London more than an hour sooner, so I took that, buying something to eat in the train. We had a very calm passage over & I was not sea-sick & instead of arriving here about nine o’clock, I got here about half past seven, quite ready for my dinner. It is really wonderful how quickly they do the journey now, they hardly stop anywhere. They all seem pretty well here except Charlie senior who has a troublesome sore throat. I can’t get rid of my cold & cough as much as ever, Fanny gave me some hot lemonade for it last night.
I am glad you had a pleasant little visit at the Nash, I expect the children were delighted to get you home again. I got myself a nice dressing-gown in Paris & also got a nice little one at a moderate price for May, which I thought we would keep for our birthday present to her. I lunched with the Irvines on Monday & Essie & Annie went out with me in the afternoon, the latter has given me a nice photograph of herself & also some books to take home to the children.
I forgot to tell you I met Chrissie Burrows at the Oxford station coming up, she hoped the girls would be able to come to them; I must try & find out Mrs Scott’s address here & call on her.
I must put in a few lines for Ethel, so must leave a little news for her, so with much love
Believe me
Your loving wife
Eugénie N Sladden
