Marshgate House
Richmond
4th July 1898
My dear Kathleen
Thank you for your letter received this morning. May spent Saturday & Sunday here going back to Croydon very early this morning, she is coming here next Saturday & will go with me to Windsor, we hope to take the 10.5 train from here which reaches Windsor at 10.47, but at any rate if we can’t quite manage that we should take the 11.12 and reach Windsor at 11.56. I think May would rather come even if she would not be able to get into the hall, she would like to see you, & introduce some of her friends to you. I am looking forward to seeing you take a prize from the Princess, I am so glad you have a decent dress, shall you require gloves or shoes? If so you must get Sister to let you buy some & have them put down on the bill. I think Father will probably send you some roses, & if so, you are not to give all the best away & keep none to wear yourself, but have a pretty bunch for your own dress. Certainly I will get you another blouse on Saturday, I am sorry the other has faded so much. Baby is a good little pet here, & gets no end of attention, is she were older her little head would be quite turned. Even Uncle notices her & calls her a little flirt because she always laughs at him & Mary. Ada, the maid, takes her out in the afternoon so Auntie & I are able to go out together. Last week I went with her to the Flower Show & also to a large garden party at Sir Whitaker Ellis’, they have a lovely garden by the river & the Coldstream Guards Band was playing, & of course there were heaps of people very grandly dressed. I am going to Byfleet tomorrow, Auntie says poor Uncle gets worse every day & I don’t think he can live very long, it is so sad for them all. May seems to be rather enjoying her time at Croydon, of course she is far more independent than when she was there before, & has some time to herself & her lodgings are comfortable. Baby’s second tooth came through a day or two before we left home, & now I hope she may not trouble about any more till we get back again next week.
With much love dear, hoping to see you next Saturday.
I remain
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
