Seward House, Badsey
10th February 1897
My dear Kathleen
I have just been writing to George & will now try & accomplish my fortnightly epistle to you. Today was the Literary meeting, it took place at the Robarts’ & I went; Hamlet was the play & the reading was not very first rate all round; Hamlet’s part was the best, Mr Waugh, Vicar of Harvington, took that part, he has a nice voice & read fairly well. I am afraid I shall have to have one of the meetings here after all, for Mrs Wilding’s mother is very ill, so she cannot have one. Ethel is pretty well again but still tires rather quickly & looks white, she is having a course of Parrish. She will go to Richmond on the 23rd, I think, the day after the concert & I must ask Auntie Polly to try & let her go & see you. You must have been very pleased to see Miss Pollard, how was she looking after her African experiences? Did she speak of writing to me or coming to Badsey? We were very pleased to hear you were top of your form & 1st in mathematics (please note the spelling, for you always get it wrong). Is your dance to be fancy dress or not? Auntie Fanny says she could lend May the top of a dress which [?] wore as Juliet, but it would require to be worn over a white or pink skirt, & you could have the [?] costume again if you like or else wear the white dress May had last year. You had better let me know in a few days, then I can send Auntie word about it. We still have no news of Jack’s exam, I wish they would hurry up & let us know. Arthur has had a bad cold & was away from school three days, lots of other boys were bad too, he said one day there were 50 boys away from football. We are asking him to send us a birthday list, as we have not an idea what to give him as a present. Emily gets on pretty well, she is a bit trying, but still is much better than nobody. I must send for a postal order tomorrow morning & send you the money for your shoes. With much love from us all
Believe me
Your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
