Seward House
Badsey
17th March 1898
My dear May,
I think it is just as well that you have decided to go back to Croydon, it really was very shabby of the Miss Waters to offer you less than you are having this term, & I must say I did not care for the idea of you lodging by yourself. I shall be only too glad to have you at home for a bit & I daresay you will be able to hear of something after the summer holidays. By all means go to Clewer on your way home & stay there a few days if they can have you, it will be a good opportunity for you to see them all & as for the chicken pox, I don’t think there is much fear of your bringing home infection, of course you would not see any girls who had got it. I hope you will be able to manage to go to the wedding you will like to I know, & Auntie would like you to be there. Jack is going. Arthur is coming home tomorrow, there is a case of diphtheria in the school, wo they are sending all the boys home, they certainly are unfortunate at Brecon. Father does not get on much, he goes to business but does not seem to get his appetite or strength & still coughs; I think it was influenza that he had & that is why he is so long getting round. Cyril is not very well; he has had a heavy cold off & on for a long time & now seems generally run down; he has not been to lessons today. Baby’s arm is healing nicely. I fancy she begins to feel her teeth a little, as she is not quite so good now; I think I must wait to short-coat her till you & Kathleen are home again, she has not outgrown her clothes yet & the weather is rather cold. Of course if Miss Jenny reconsiders the matter & agrees to give you board & lodgings & you could still go to Mrs Jeffries, you might then agree to go for next term, but I don’t suppose she will do that .
With love in haste
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
