Seward House, Badsey
31st March 1897
My dear May
I must try & write your letter this evening. We are sending you the money for the Higher Cambridge fees, what an awful lot it is, I think it is really too bad to make the fees so high for these examinations.
1st April – I was too tired to finish my letter yesterday & must sit down before going out for a walk. Of course you may come home on Easter Monday especially if they are gong to get a reserved carriage for you. I don’t suppose it will be much more crowded on Monday afternoon than on Tuesday. I don’t think there would be any advantage in your going to Richmond for the exam in June, you had better go up with the governess from school. As to your working in the holidays, I shan’t make any rash promises till I see how you are looking, but at any rate I don’t allow more than two hours a day, as I am sure it will be a better preparation for your exam that you should be really refreshed by your holidays.
You would have liked Mr Gepp’s sermon last Sunday evening, his text was I Cor. I 18. The church was so crammed as it usually is at Harvest Thanksgiving. He came in to supper here on Monday evening & seemed to feel saying goodbye to us; I think they all feel leaving Badsey much more than they thought they would. I shall miss them all very much & they have been extra nice lately. Mr Price won’t be coming till after Easter & perhaps not till May; I hear he was here yesterday with his sister, but I have not seen anything of him yet. I hope to get the house cleaning finished next week, Emily & Mrs Nightingale don’t hit it at all, & the former sulked the latter all this wash, so I don’t know how they will manage to agree over the work next week. Emily does not improve & I think when you are all back at school again, I must try & hear of some one more satisfactory. Ethel does not look quite herself yet, though her visits did her some good, I think. Tell Kathleen her nice little trunk from Auntie Fanny has arrived, I have not unpacked it, but it looks just a nice handy size. Auntie gave Ethel a very swell hat & I believe she is also to have some new night-gowns. I am thinking of walking over to Littleton this afternoon, if the rain keeps off, so must end.
With much love to you both
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
