Marshgate House
Richmond
Surrey
29th December 1915
My dear Eugénie
Thank you for your letter and then for your likeness and that of your first grandchild. I think it very good of you and Baby looks a sweet little thing. I think she must favour the Williams family for she does not remind me of any of you. I am particularly pleased to have your photograph for I have mislaid one of you. I shall doubtless find it some day. I think it is wonderful how much expression there is in a likeness, looking down it certainly is so in yours but I have noticed it with others. I am sorry Mary’s sister has scarlatina. I hope she will have it well and get strong afterwards, you must have been a merry party of girls for Christmas and I suppose Jack was with you. He kindly sent me a calendar. I must write and thank him for it. I enclose postal orders for schooling fund. I ought to have sent it earlier in the month but I forgot. I hope by this time you have head from Cyril. Fred and Florence have a fresh anxiety. Archie has returned from the Front with another nerve breakdown, he came and dine with us on Monday, has since gone to Emsworth where he is with his wife and Baby at Mrs Parkes, of course he is still under orders and we don’t yet know whether the board has decided he is to have a leave or whether he will return by and bye to France or still do Chaplain’s work at home or have to give it all up and return to his curacy, it is so sad for them for under their present circumstances they can’t give him the help they otherwise would do. We all went to Matins and celebration on Christmas Day, but it was such pouring rain that I had a carriage telephoned for to take us and it fetched us afterwards and took us home to pick up Alice who was to help wait at Strawberry Hill when we joined them at early dinner. We sat down 14, the two Misses Lamb were there, Miss McCully and Miss Coombes, the former mentioned ladies were some of the people Fred used to look after, he was their trustee, at least their Mother’s, who was a widow and then when he felt too ill to go on with it, he passed it on to Charlie who is very kind to them. Eleanor and Lance had arranged the table the night before, with our flags down the centre and dinner napkins and doyleys with red, white and blue and 6 tiny Christmas trees, it looked so pretty. After dinner there was the usual distribution of presents and some music, Eleanor playing a piece of Brahms very well, she also played her cello. More friends came in to tea, we drove home and got in in time for supper, it was very nice to have Edwin to take me in to dinner as usual instead of missing him as I had thought to have done. He is certainly fatter and has to go back next week when I hope he will still go on improving. Harry was home for a few hours a fortnight ago tomorrow, but spent Christmas at Leigh-on-Sea with a Schoolmaster Scoutmaster, evidently a man he likes and with whom he would have something in common, at least he dined early with him and then they were going to have tea with other officers and men and I think an entertainment was to follow that he had helped to prepare for. They may now move on any day, destination unknown when he last wrote but when he was here the thought it might be the north of England. I hope you were able to go to May’s entertainment. Mary was disappointed of 2 guests on Christmas Day so only had Miss Simpson and Miss Lobb. Ted is rather troubled with one of his legs. I suppose Mela spent Christmas in hospital. Much love to you all and a kiss for Baby.
Your loving sister
Mary Anna Robinson
