Chipping Norton
June 17th 1877
My own dearest Eugénie,
I will take advantage of the cool of the evening to write you a few lines as I shall be busy to-morrow morning.
I have had a very quiet Sunday, being alone, and no one called in the afternoon, neither did I go out beyond my garden, but although a quiet day it has been a very happy one for I have had you in my thoughts, darling Eugénie, almost more than usual and have felt so contented in the near prospect of seeing your dear face again so shortly.
I went to Church this morning as usual, and again this evening, at the latter service our Vicar gave us, I thought, a very good sermon, afterwards I went for a short stroll with Willie Bliss & his wife which I enjoyed, for I talked of my projected visit to Paris, I like them both very much and they seem pleased for me to talk of you which I like to do often; you seem, dear girl, so much a part of myself already – so much indeed the better part – that I sometimes wonder how I existed before I gained your love!
Thank you for your advice regarding the hotel d’Albe to which I shall certainly go, being so near, and I like the Champs Elysées so much, do you remember our sitting there on Easter Monday?
I suppose this is the last letter I shall write prior to our meeting so I must tell you my plans, I think of starting from here at 3.15 P.M. on Friday arriving in London @ 6.30 there I hope to meet George to say good bye, dine with him, and take the mail @ 8.20 arriving in Paris about 6.20A.M. on Saturday I must take my night’s rest in the train and then with the aid of a cold tub and a breakfast at my hotel I shall hope to present myself without a jaded appearance! please tell me the earliest time at which you will be prepared to receive me and then, without further notice, you will know within a few minutes when to expect me, observe my artfulness in trying to draw another letter!
So you have been to the “Salon” you have the start of me for I have not yet seen the “Academy”.
Please excuse a rather shabby letter but is quite my bed-time and the near hope of seeing my loved one so soon makes letter writing seem almost superfluous.
Good night. Oh! how I long for the moment to come when I can take my darling in these arms and steal a sweet long kiss! Till then, adieu, and ever believe me
Your own true loving
Julius Sladden
How many flights of stairs is there to your apartments, is it the fifth landing up not including the ground floor?
