Seward House
Badsey
Evesham
Dec 5/12
My dearest Wife,
I find my long evening is coming to an end and I must write you a few lines before I go to bed.
As ill luck would have it the Times did not come to-day, fancy me without my newspaper on a solitary evening! However I have had plenty of jobs and the time has been none too long. After tea I took the school money up to the Macdonalds and then made a call on Mrs Ashwin.
I have been thinking about you all at the Confirmation this evening and shall want to hear all about it from Ethel when she returns, I am sure our dear little girl was pleased to have several of the home circle there and Mother especially. It has been quite warm here so I hope you will run no risk of cold and no doubt Polly will not hurry you up in the morning if you wish to take a little extra rest. I suppose you got a glimpse of May but you could scarcely have much time with her.
I rather expect I may get a p.c. from Ethel in the morning but if not I shall order a fly to meet the 4.17 train in the expectation that she will bring Mela down, I shall hardly be able to meet them as must get early tea for my school meeting at 5 o’clock.
I rather imagine you will be staying over next Sunday but shall be very glad to get you back again before long, it seems an age since you went away! Of course having so few at home makes the house seem quiet.
I managed to get the new roses planted yesterday, so the garden work is getting on. I think I will say good night now and leave this letter open in case I may want to add a line in the morning.
Much love, dear
Your affectionate Husband
Julius Sladden
Thursday. Your letter received. I am rather fidgety about your being in a house where there are such colds going round and if you stay on for a few days you really must endeavour to avoid contact with those who have them, even if you have to keep to your own room a bit. I think you had better travel through London unless the other trains fit very well indeed, I will look them up.
