Seward House,
Badsey
1st December 1898
My dear Ethel,
I ought to have written to you before post time as Father’s letter to Kathleen has been waiting since last night but of course this morning there was no time for writing & directly after dinner I went up to Evesham & did not get back until half past five, & as we had tea at a quarter to six I could not get it in. I am glad you were top in form again, you are a good girl, it would be nice if you could get moved up at Christmas. I finished my mincemeat last week & this evening May & I have been hard at work on puddings, I thought we should never get the raisins stoned in time to write our letters. Father has been out all evening first at an ambulance lecture & then a smoking concert of the National Conservative League, which seems to have been a successful affair. Poor little Babs has got rather a bad cold in her head today, her eyes & nose keep running. I think she must have caught it from Cyril who has had a cold the last few days. She has been saying Mama the last day or two, but won’t say it as a rule if I ask her to, & she has two double teeth now. I hope you will get asked by Mrs Knapp on Saturday & that they will be able to come to the theatricals on Wednesday. I gave Mrs Nightingale your message the other day, I was not able to get a present for her in time for her birthday, but bought a knitted petticoat for her this afternoon. I hope she will approve of it. I really begin to think that she & old Griffin mean to make a match of it after all, she is always dropping broad hints about it. I don’t seem to have any news for you this week & am very tired, so you must excuse a short letter. With much love to Kathleen & yourself
I am
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
