Seward House
Badsey
8th March 1916
My dear Juliet
We were glad to get your nice long letter on Tuesday morning, they do not often turn up before then, indeed Monday is often a blank day as far as post is concerned. It certainly is cold and we have not by any means got rid of the snow as some comes down every day, it was quite white when we woke this morning and though it has melted now, it will probably be white again tomorrow or nine, at least that has been our usual experience this last fortnight. Just about that time ago Dr Leslie paid me his last call and said I could go out the first nice day and I am still waiting for that day. I did just prowl up and down for ten minutes outside the dining room winter on Saturday, during a sunny interval, but could not go beyond the shelter of the house as the wind was too cold. I am so sorry you have such bad chilblains, did you rub them with snow when you had the chance?
Ethel is going down to Deal on Monday; poor Norah is very ill indeed, hopelessly so, the Doctor says, though it may be a long case; Marian got off for a week but has to return to her work and it is not fit for poor Aunt Edith to be alone, so Ethel will go and help her for a fortnight or so. I am so glad I am well enough to be able to spare her and perhaps Mela might be back before long, at any rate Ada is quite good and will do all she can to prevent my over-doing it. Mela came over for an hour or so on Monday with two of the Miss Nicklins in their car. There are two nurses and she is on duty from 2 am to 2 pm. It has been a very serious case and the patient, a girl of 31, fiancée of the chauffeur there, has been nearly dead four or five times; Mela says her pulse seemed quite gone, and then she comes round again. They hopes they made be able to save her, but it will be rather a miracle.
I hope Miss Lacey is better and will be wise enough to take care of herself, it does not do to be too venturesome after influenza as I have found out to my cost. I hope also that she is not over-doing the economy in the food line. I don't mind how plain it is, but growing girls and girls who are studying hard want sufficient food. I think a good many people are trying to economize, though some don't know quite how to start, and the poorer class seem obliged always to spend any money they have got, even if it is a good deal more than they usually have.
Old Mr Baker leaves the end of this month and the house is let to a market gardener living at present in Evesham. I don't know whether they are supposed to be educated people or not. The old man came in to supper with us on Friday and had a game of bridge, he must be dreadfully dull all alone.
I hope you will just manage to scrape through your exam in June, I think any way Father intends you to leave school in the summer, it is time you did so. I wonder very much where Kathleen’s next post will be, they can scarcely decide on new quarters until she knows where she is likely to be, and Jack’s plans too are rather undecided, though I don't much imagine his office will let him go into the army.
The twins came before the tribunal on Monday to plead their cause. I don't think they got much sympathy, but we hear that the father was so insolent that he got turned out of the room! I expect they really will have to go, even if they do try and appeal again to some higher authority.
What is the name of your show pupil? And who taught her before? I expect you felt rather jealous of Bluebell and wished you had been going to the dance; has she grown up a pretty girl?
I heard from George yesterday, but he said he had not ideas in his head and that the army was a good forcing frame for vegetables, so evidently did not feel in the mood for writing. There was a parcel for Mela from Port Said and she opened it on Monday. Dear old Cyril has sent her two lovely embroidered blouse lengths and something for each of you girls, including Mary and Rosie; there are two sweet little silly shawls, you are to choose one and Rosie is to have the other. My present is still on the way, but that was coming from another shop. I wonder how far the dear old boy has got now. The news round Verdun was rather too good for the Germans in this morning's paper, still the French are standing up against them in a wonderful way and I hope they may be able to keep it up and prevent this further advance. It is nearly supper-time and I will finish.
With much love.
I am
Your loving Mother
Eugénie N Sladden
