Chipping Norton
Oct 18 /77
My Darling Eugénie,
I must not let the evening pass without writing to you, for my mornings are pretty well occupied and I should have but little time to spare before post-time.
I like to hear you say, dearest, that my letters make you happy, they are always written in that hope, although I know there is frequently but little in them still, somehow, I always seem to feel that my Eugénie knows it is a true love her Julius has for her, a love that would rather declare itself by deeds than words, I often think how sweet it will be to me in our married life to feel that my darling is learning to love me, with an even fuller love, in the knowledge that her husband is faithfully striving to be all he wishes, and all he ought to be, to her.
I suppose you will get this letter on Saturday morning, fancy, darling, while you are reading this, in one short week our long wished for meeting will be close at hand, ah, how I long to clasp my own Eugénie to my heart again!
I expect I shall start from here on the Friday @ 3.15P.M. and cross by the night mail as before, I shall not be able to stay later than Monday evening but the hours we have together shall be very sweet to us my love.
You will be wondering whether I have anything to tell you about our house, the work goes on very well but I am constantly finding things to be done, fancy yesterday I discovered the top sashes of all the sitting rooms were nailed up so there was a job at once to re-open them and make them work before the painter could go on outside, I knew most of the windows were so but had not imaged the living rooms in that condition. The painters have about finished the three rooms at the very top of the house so that the paper hanger may commence, our room has received one coat, the spare room is begun, and they have just commenced rubbing down the drawing room. The gas fitter will complete his work and the bell hanging next week, I think, and the whitewasher all the ceilings upstairs but there is a great deal to be done to the plaster in the entrance hall where it has come away from the wall before it can be painted and there also I am going to lay a groundwork of pattern tiles which are ordered and on their road.
I shall have to move in just six weeks but shall not clear the house of the painters by that time I can see, though I quite hope all but the passages and staircase may be about completed, the garden I am getting along with very well.
I have been much interested in the French elections I do hope there may ensure no disturbance, I fancy the Marshall will hold on for some time, at least, if not for his full term of seven years.
I was sorry to hear that Papa was so unwell, give my love to him and say that I hope to find him better shortly.
I wrote to Charlotte yesterday, I hope she will manage to get away for a month.
I think when I come over I must make out a list previously of questions I want to ask you about our home for I want your advice about so many matters that I may forget some, one thing I shall not forget to ask my darling and that will be when I may come over for that next visit and claim her as my own for ever, ah, my love, how many times a day do I long for the time to come when our life companionship shall commence, that companionship, darling, so fraught will be all bright hope and promise for the future and which I, and I know you, earnestly pray and believe will be for our mutual happiness!
And now good-bye
Ever believe my sweet Eugénie
In the affection of your own true lover
Julius Sladden
