Seward House
Badsey
21st October 1897
My dear Kathleen
I must try to write to you this evening as there really seems no time in the day, lying down every afternoon seems to take such a slice out of the day, & yet if I don’t do it, I am no good in the evening. Mary Rose’s reign was short & sweet, she arrived on Wednesday evening & departed on Monday morning; on Saturday she complained of feeling ill & thought the work would be too much for her & on Monday she quite gave in & said that she would rather go home so here we are again without anybody. It is rather a disappointment as she seemed such a nice, quiet, respectable girl & got through her work so quickly & without any trouble, however better luck next time. Meanwhile I keep hearing about [?] & begin to think she must almost beat Emily at story telling. I think Ethel and Cyril will go to Byfleet although Uncle and Auntie will be away. Auntie says Cory [?] will look after them. Mary is coming here about the 12th November. I am sorry to say Uncle Fred is ill, he has bronchitis & though Auntie says he is better, he is unable to leave his bed yet and is very weak. I don’t think we have told you that Tom Sladden is going out to the Cape to see what he can get to do there; he starts on Saturday from Southampton; I expect poor Aunt Edith will feel sad [omitted] saying goodbye to him for such an indefinite time. They moved from Guston to Sandwich about a fortnight ago. Father’s slippers have been returned from the shoe maker as they want rather more mending, so we are sending you one to do, for really Ethel has but little time for work just now and has no end of jobs on hand, they are to be worked up to the black lines & please get it done as soon as possible as Father really wants them.
The little Woods have been spending the afternoon here. Mrs Wood is away & I think perhaps Miss Hansen is somewhat like Miss Poulton and so we thought it may be a charity to ask them over. What a strange idea to send a Jewess to a school like yours, I should think her friends must wish her to become a Christian, as naturally the Sisters would do what they could to convert her.
I really think it would be no use for you to go up for such a music exam as the Junior Local. It is too simple for a girl of your age; & the Seniors I doubt if you could manage, so I think that idea of Miss Alderson’s will have to fall through.
I think you will have to extend your exeat at school this time, you might write to Miss Pollard & ask her to come & see you. She is at 1 Sussex Place, Slough.
Now with much love to you both
Believe me
Your loving mother
Eugénie
