Seward House
Badsey
3rd February 1915
My dear Juliet
I am very sorry to hear that you have had influenza and hope you are beginning to feel stronger again; are you taking a tonic? I hope you won’t go and catch measles a second time, it would be annoying; however, if you do, mind you have it as lightly as the first time. It certainly was a disappointment not having Arthur and Mary here on Saturday, especially as we expected them all day and got everything ready. Jack and Kathleen both thought the other had sent a telegram, and the postcard that Jack had posted on Friday evening never arrived till Sunday morning. Meanwhile we had had a telegram from Cyril saying he was coming for one night, so we had him and Mela till Sunday evening. Yesterday we had a telegram from Arthur announcing their arrival that evening and this time they really did turn up. Arthur is looking very well and seems cheerful, he is fatter than he was, and Mary seems very well. Arthur has till next Saturday when he will go to town, arrange to meet Kathleen and Jack and go down to Southampton by a night train. He does not know yet where he will be sent, but expects to find out at Havre. Mary will I think go on to Dowlais from here, but I daresay she will stay on with us a little while first.
I am sorry you could not give a more flourishing account of Kathleen. I am afraid she is not as well as I should wish and I do hope her work this term will not be too much for her. May has got the pleasure of her school party tomorrow afternoon, it had to be put off at Christmas time. They have a small Belgian boy as pupil now and his Father is having a class of ladies to teach them conversational French. After much persuasion May and I have prevailed on Ethel to join it, and she was to have gone to the first yesterday, but as Arthur was coming she did not go. Marjory Slater and the News have joined the class and seem to think the man is a good teacher. How goes your French class and did Miss Lacey come and listen yesterday?
Ypers is quite well and getting fatter; he is quite good in most ways be we can’t get him quite clean in his habits yet, and I have had to use the whip once or twice. Arthur sends his love and will try and send you a letter some time; he says there was very little to write about at Nantes.
With much love hoping you are quite fit again.
I am your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
