Chipping Norton
Oct 9 /77
My Darling Eugénie,
I was delighted to receive your letter, posted on Sunday, a day earlier than I expected and this evening I must write you one in return.
Yesterday I had Shoolbred’s man down to measure for the curtains, carpet &c ordered of them and they will now proceed to get everything ready. The tradespeople are very busy in the house, a carpenter doing sundry repairs and taking up floors &c for the gas fitter and bell-hanger who has a good bit to do, which however I am glad to find he is getting on with well, then the plasterer and whitewasher has begun and the painter comes in to-morrow I hope, shortly to be followed by the paper hanger I expect.
Mr Hitchman has now given orders for painting the outside of the house and doing a few repairs absolutely necessary, and I hope the fine weather will continue to allow all the outside work to go on without interruption.
In the garden I am pushing on well, three or four men will soon make an alteration in the look of things but there is much to be done before we get anything like straight.
I tell you all these little things, darling, because I feel sure you are interested in the preparation of our future home, that home in which I trust my own Eugénie will be very happy, in the possession of all the fond love of one to whom she is dearer than anyone ever was before, ah, my love, if it is a happiness for me to love you so, how much more to feel sure, as I do, that I have gained the best affection of a true, warm-hearted girl!
And so you think perhaps I sometimes consider you better than you really are, well I should be sorry not to estimate my Eugénie very highly indeed as I know I may without fear of being disappointed. Perhaps I should prefer in the words of Wordsworth,
“a creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food,
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.”
My Gladioli are most beautiful now, I never knew them so late, I often wish, dear, that you could have some of the very choicest for, you know, you must always have the best of everything your Julius can offer.
I have been in correspondence with the Turkey carpet people, the carpet we selected is rather too large but I have secured one exactly similar which will be the right size.
I too thought last Sunday about twelve months ago and felt happy in the contemplation that my dream of that day had become a sweet reality, sometimes I think and wonder when my Eugénie’s heart gave me back the first little spark of love!
I conclude Papa is home again before this, I hope he had a favourable passage.
I have been studying a book of patterns of papers for the last day or two and must finally decide to-day, Willie Bliss is coming up by and bye and I shall see what he thinks where I am undecided.
And now I must close this letter.
Good-bye my love,
Ever believe you have all the affection of your own true lover
Julius Sladden
I have not forgotten the kiss and somehow fancy my Eugénie will not forget to take it!
