Seward House
Badsey
19th October 1898
My dear Ethel
Father wrote his letters to Kathleen rather early in the week as he expected to be out this evening & tomorrow. So I must try try & write this evening so that the letters may be posted tomorrow. I am glad you again had a good place in form, & it was capital being 1st in French & 2nd in German; if you go on working steadily I hope you may get moved up a form after Christmas. Clara is a good deal better & able to do much of her work again but she is not very strong yet. I have to consider her a good deal. Today I let her take Baby out for a walk, as I think this does her good, but to manage this, we have to dine pretty early & then I help her wash up etc. We had a frightfully wet day yesterday to go to the Literary at Mrs Malcom’s. I believe May has given Kath a description of our journey there; there were 24 present I think; the reading was pretty good altogether. Mr Waugh sang a nice song & there was a glee (performers Mr Waugh, Mr Price, Mrs Thornton & Miss F. Robarts). Mrs Price was down for a solo piano but did not turn up as the weather was too bad. Eve Haynes was there looking very grown up, in a coat & shirt with a man’s waistcoat & a veil on. Tomorrow there is a concert at the school, got up by the Prices; I am going to accompany her two songs for Hilda Ashwin, she came over this afternoon to practise them with me. Mrs Bert Evans has another little boy. I think that is the only baby you would be interested in, Mrs W. Crisp’s little girl was born before you left home I believe. Baby has been very good all today, she is not always quite so angelic, she indulges in decided little tantrums occasionally, she can stand by the chairs now with very little support. Miss Pollard was not able to come & see us, perhaps she will go to Clewer & see you before long. We have not yet got the winter curtains up in the dining-room or drawing-room, it has been so wet lately that I could not have the carpet shaken. This is a very stupid letter I am afraid, but I am most frightfully sleepy & can hardly keep my eyes open.
With much love to you both
Believe me
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
