Eynsford
Eastbourne
7th July 1915
My dear Juliet
I meant to have written to you yesterday afternoon but Uncle Fred and Aunt Florence arrived quite early to have a chat with me before dinner, so I did not manage to get the letter written. I came on here this morning, Mrs Horsman seeing me safe as far as East Croydon, and was here about 12 o’clock. I enclose a letter from Cyril which you will like to read, let me have it back again.
I think Miss Lacey is wise in telling you not to decide in a hurry as to what you would like to do. I don’t know whether your objection to the idea of teaching is the actual teaching, if so, you might find that you liked it better when you have had more experience of it, or whether it is more the idea of the life in a school. I am not at all sure that you would like a nurse’s life any better, it has many drawbacks and some nurses are apt to get so hard and unsympathetic (not all of course) and also you could do nothing in that way for five years and perhaps then might not be strong enough to stand the work. What other courses did Miss Lacey put before you? I hope Father will be coming down here for a few days and I will have a talk with him; of course, it is quite possible that the expense of a college course may be quite out of the question anyway now, even if you managed to get a scholarship, which you seem doubtful of doing. When does Miss Lacey think it would be any use for you to try for one, if you do stick to your original plans? Of course the system of no exams, though good in some ways, gives one no clue as to what sort of an examinee you may be, and there is a good deal in knowing how to tackle a paper. The only advice I can give you is to pray for guidance – that you may do what is really best for you and for your chance of doing useful work in the world. A letter from George arrived for Kathleen this morning just after she had started, and she had a long one from Arthur yesterday; the latter will I think be coming to England for a few weeks at any rate the middle of August when his year in the RAMC is over, what he will do afterwards is not decided. Poor old Boo must be getting on towards the end of his voyage, he has been gone about a fortnight. Mela was at Badsey on Sunday, they had it very wet there. I have only had two hurried notes from Father, I expect the girls are too busy to write, Aunt Lottie was going home yesterday. I suppose you have written to accept invitation?
I must send a line to Kathleen now, so with much love dear.
I remain
Your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
